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BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS, 

OF THE 

ILLUSTRIOUS 

t ' 

Gen. GEORGE WASHINGTON, 

LATE PRESIDENT 
OF THE 

UNITED STATES of AMERICA, i^c. 
Containing 

A HISfORT OF fHE PRINCIPAL EVENfS OF HIS LIFJEy 

jvifH Ex-rsAcrs from his journals, speeches 
fo congress, and public addresses. 

ALSO, 

A SKETCH CF RIS^ ^PRlKVSE^nTr ^ ' 



BRATTLEBOROUGH : 

PUBLISHED BY WILLIAM FESSENDEN. 

1814. 



t-'3r^ 



7 3i^ * 



BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS 



OF 



-Gen. George JVaskiiigton, 

LAfE PRESIDENT OF 'THE UNITED STAtESy ^C. iS'c. 



GEORGE WASHINGTON was born 
February 22d, 17S2, in the Parifli of Wafh- 
ington, in Weftmoreland County, in the 
ftate of Virginia. His anceftors were poffef- 
fed of property in England, near Cave, in 
the eaft riding of Yorkihire, which they fold 
and came over to America, in the year 1 657, 
and purchafed lands in King George's Co. 
Virginia. His father, Mr. Auguflus Wafti- 
ington, was the fecond in defcent after their 
emigration, and had a numerous offspring. 
He was poifelfed of a large property, and of 
diftinguiflied reputation. George was his 
third fon, and the firil fruit of his fecond 
marriage. He received his education un- 
der the eye of his father, from a private tu- 
tor, under whom he acquired a knowledge 



4 Biographical Memoirs of 

of the Latin language, fufEcient for the or- 
dinary purpofes of life, his mother-tongue 
grammatically, and the elements of mathe- 
matics, which he, in his rifing years, care- 
fully improved by practical experiments in 
topographical and military plans. When 
he was but ten years of age, his father died, 
and at fifteen, he was entered a midfhipman 
on board a Britifh ftiip of war then ftationed 
on the coaft of Virginia. But after his bag- 
gage had been packed up for embarkation, 
the plan was abandoned in obedience to the 
calls of maternal affection. For feveral years 
after he quitted his tutor, the learning he 
had acquired was much improved by a dif- 
pofition to iludy, and he particularly appli- 
ed himfelf to the practical parts of furvey- 
ing, a knowledge of which was then, as it is 
now, very important and neceflary to men 
of landed property in every part of the A- 
merican continent. His merits in this brancli 
of knowledge, occafioned him being nomi- 
nated Surveyor to a certain diftrict in Vir- 
ginia, an appointment rather creditable than 
lucrative ; but which afforded him advan- 
tageous opportunities, particularly an ac- 



General George Wajhingion, 3 

qii^intance with the country, the properties 
of lands, and the fituations and directions of 
creeks and rivers, and it enabled him to 
make a choice of fome valuable tracts of 
land for fubfequent purchafe. 

After his father died, the charge of the 
family devolved on his eldeft brother Law- 
rence, a young man of mofi promising tal- 
ents; who, at that time, was a captain un- 
der Admiral Vernon, in the colonial troops, 
employed in the expedition againft Cartha- 
gena ; upon his return, having come into 
the poffeffion of his patrimonial eftates, in 
honor of his Admiral, from whom he had 
received many civilities, he named his new 
manfion MounUVernon. He was afterwards 
made Adjutant General of the militia of Vir- 
ginia, but did not long furvive, and on his 
demife (notwithftanding there were heirs of 
an elder branch, who poffefs a large fliare of 
the patrimony) the eldeft fon by the fecond 
marriage, inherited the part upon which 
that feat now ftands, and a confiderable lan- 
ded property attached to it. 

At the death of his brother, the vacant of- 
fice of Adjutant General was in confequence 
A 2 



6 Biographical Memoirs of 

of the encreafed population, and extenfive 
limits of the colony, divided into three dif- 
tricts, and \hQ future Hero of America^ before 
he was twenty years of age, began his mil- 
itary career, by an appointment to the rank 
of Major in that department. 

In 1753, an event occurred, which called 
his abilities into more adlive public notice. 
The jealouiies of the French and Englifli 
governments were at their height. En- 
croachments were reported to have been 
made by the former from their fettlements 
in Canada, on the frontier territories of the 
Britifli colonies, along the rivers Ohio and 
de Boeuf.* Orders were received from 
England, by the Governor and Council of 
Virginia, to repel by force thefe encroach- 
ments ; in confequence of which, Lieuten- 
ant-Governor Dinwiddie difpatched young 
Major Wafhington, with plenary powers to 
afcertain the fads, treat with the Indians, 
and to engage them to continue firm in 
their attachment to England, and to warn 
the French to defift from the inroads they 
were making, in diredl violation of the trea- 

» French Creek. 



General George Wajh'wgion. 7 

ties then fubfifting between the two crowns. 
This miflion he performed vvith lingular in- 
duftry, intelligence and addrefs. 

The appointment of Major Wafliington 
was deemed a circumitance fomewhat extra- 
ordinary at that period ; it was faid that a 
youth unacquainted with the enlarged com- 
merce of the world, unexperienced in polit- 
ical concerns, appeared to be unfit to be em- 
ployed to condu<fl a negociation, wherein 
fubjecls of the greateft importance were in- 
volved : It was very true that the fubjeds 
were important, for they fliortly after be- 
came the origin of a war between the two 
nations, which raged for many years, and 
extended throughout every part of the 
globe, and which ended in the final expul- 
fion of the French from the continent. 

But thofe who had formed fuch fuperfi- 
cial notions of the Major, were, in the end, 
deceived by the fuccefs and abilities mani- 
fefted through the whole tranfadion. This 
having been the firft effort of that career 
which has terminated with fo much fplen- 
dor in hiftory, and honor and happinefs to 
himfelf and his country j it will be pleaf- 



^ Biographical Memoirs of 

ing to perufe his journal, given in as a re* 
port of his proceedings to governor Din- 
widdle of Virginia, on that occafion ; it is 
highly illuttrative of that activity and pen- 
etration vi^hich have fignalifed his charac- 
ter on a more extenfive theatre, at a fubfe- 
quent period. 



MA J, GEORGE WASHIJ\rGTOJV's JOURNAL, 

Sent by the Hon. Robert Dinwiddie. Esq ; his 
M'Jjestifs Lieutenant-Governor^ and Commander 
hi Chief oj Virginia^ to the Commmidant of the 
French forces on the Ohio, 

W EBNESD AY y October 31, 1753. 
I was commiffioned and appointed by the 
Hon. Robert Dinwiddie, Esq. governor, 
&c. of Virginia, to vifit and deliver a letter 
to the Commandant of the French forces 
on the Ohio, and fet out on the intended 
journey the fame day ; The next, I arrived 
at Fredericksburg, and engaged Mr. Jacob 
Vanbram to be my French interpreter; 
and proceeded with him to Alexandria, 
where we provided neceffaries. From 



General George Wajhingion, 

thence we went to Winchefter, and got 
baggage, horfes, &c. and from thence we 
purfued the new road to Wills Creek, 
where we arrived on the 1 4th of Novem- 
ber. 

Here I engaged Mr. Gift to pilot iis out, 
and alfo hired four others as fervitors. 
Barnay Corrin and John Mac. Quire, In- 
dian traders, Henry Stewart and V7illiam 
Jenkins ; and, in company with thofe per- 
fons, left the inhabitants the next day. 

The exceilive rains and vaft quantity of 
fnow which had fallen, prevented our 
reaching Mr. Frazier's, an Indian trader at 
the mouth of Turtle Creek, on the Mon- 
nongaheia river, till Thurfday the 22d. 
We were informed here, that exprefs had 
been fent a few days before to the traders 
down the river, to acquaint them with the 
French generals' death, and the return of 
the major part of the French army into 
winter quarters. The waters were quite 
impaffable, without fwimnang our horfes ; 
w^hich obliged us to get the loan of a canoe 
fro n Frazier, and to fend Birnaby Currin, 
and Henry Stewart, down the Mononga- 



10 Biographical Memoirs of 

hela with our baggage, to meet us at the 
forks of the Ohio, about ten miles, there to 
crofs the Allegany,* 

As I got down before the canoe, I fpcnt 
fome time in viewing the rivers, and the 
land in the Fork, which I think extremely 
well iituated for a Fort, as it has the abfo- 
lute command of both rivers. The land at 
the point is 20 or 25 feet above the com- 
mon furface of the water ; and a confidera- 
ble bottom of flat well-timbered land all a- 
round ir, very convenient for building : 
The rivers are each a quarter of a mile or 
more acrofs, and run here very nigh at right 
angles, Ahegany bearing N. E. and Monon* 
gahela S. E. The former of thefe two is a 
very rapid and fwift running water ; the 
other deep and ftill, without any percepti- 
ble fall. 

About two miles from this, on the South 
Eaft fide of the river, at the place where the 
Ohio company intended to ere(fl a fort, 
lives Shingifs, king of the Delawares : We 
called upon him to invite him to council at 
the Loggs Town. 

» The Ohio and the Allegany are the same rivers, 



General George Wajhlngton. 11 

As I had taken a good deal of notice yes- 
terday of the fituation at the Forks, my cu- 
tiofity led me to examine this more partic- 
ularly, and I think it greatly inferior, ei- 
ther for defence or advantage, efpecially the 
latter : For, a fort at the Ford, would be e- 
qually well fituated on the Ohio, and have 
the entire command of the Monongahela ; 
which runs up to our fettlements, and is 
extremely well defigned for water carriage, 
as it is of a deep, flill nature. Befides a fort 
at the Fork might be built at much lefs ex- 
penfe than at the other place. 

Nature has well contrived this lower 
place for w^ater defence ; but the hill where- 
on it mull ftand, being about a quarter of a 
mile in length, and then defcending gradu- 
ally on the land fide, will render it difficult 
and very expenfive, to make a fufficient for- 
tification there. The whole flat upon the 
hill mufl be taken in, the fide next the de- 
fcent made extremely high, or elfe the hill 
itfelf cut away : Otherwife, the enemy may 
raife batteries within that diltance without 
being expofed to a fingle ihot from the 
fort. 



12 Biographical Memoirs of 

Shingifs attended us to the Loggs Town, 
where we arrived between fun fetting and 
dark, the 25th day after I left Williams- 
burg. We travelled over fome extreme 
good and bad land, to get to this place. 

As foon as 1 came into the town, I went 

to Monahatoocha (as the half-king was at 

his hunting cabin on little Beaver- Creek, 

about 15 miles off) and informed him by 

John Davifon, my Indian interpreter, that 

I was fent meffenger to the French general ; 

and was ordered to call upon the Sachems 

of the Six-Nations, to acquaint them with 

it. I gave him a firing of wampum,* and a 

twift of tobacco, and defired him to fend 

for the half king ; which hepromifed to do 

by a runner in the morning, and for other 

Sachems. I invited him and the other 

great men prefent, to my tent, where they 

flayed about an hour and then returned. 

According to the beft obfervations I 
could make, Mr. GifF's new fettlement 
(which we pafTed by) bears about W. N. W. 
70 miles from Wills Creek, Shanapins, or 

* A kind of Indian Money j also given as si present or 
mark of fiiendshidi. 



General George Wajhington, IS 

the Forks N. by W. or N. N. W. about 50 
miles from that: and from thence to 
Loggs-Town, the courfe is nearly weft a- 
bout 18 or 20 miles : So that the whole dis- 
tance, as we went and computed it, at leaft 
135 or 140 miles from our back inhabit- 
ants. 

25th. Came to town 9 or 10 French- 
men who had deferted from a company at 
the Kaikaskas, which lies at the mouth of 
this river. I got the following account 
from them. They were fent from New- 
Orleans with ]00 men, and 8 canoe loads 
of proviiions to this place ; where they ex- 
peded to have met the fame number of 
men, from the fort^ on this lide of Lake E- 
rie, to convey them and the ftores up, who 
were not arrived when they run off. 

I enquired into the iituation of the French 
on the Miffiflippi, their number, and what 
forts they had built. They informed me, 
that there were four fmall forts between 
New Orleans and the Black Iflands, garri- 
foned with about 30 or 40 men, and a few 
fmall pieces in each : That at New Orleans, 
which is near the mouth of the Mifliffippi, 
B 



i4 Biogmphical Memoirs of 

there are 35 companies of 40 men each, 
with a pretty ftrong fort mounting 8 car- 
riage guns ; and at the Black lilands there 
are federal companies ^ith a fort of 6 guns. 
The Black Iflands are about ISO leagues a- 
bove the mouth of the Ohio, which is about 
350 above New- Orleans. They alfo ac- 
quainted me that there was a fmall pallifa- 
doedfort on the Ohio, at the mouth of the 
Obaifti, about 60 leagues from the Miffiilip- 
pi. The Obaifh* heads near the weft end 
of Lake Erie, and affords the communica- 
tion between the French on the Miffiflippi 
and thofe on the Lakes. Thefe deferters 
came up from the lower Shannoah-town 
with one Brown, an Indian trader, and were 
going to Philadelphia. 

About 3 o'clock this evening the half- 
king came to town, I went up and invited 
him with Davidfon, privately, to my tent ; 
and deiired him to relate fome of the par- 
ticulars of his journey to the French com- 
mandant, and reception there ; alfo to give 
me an account of the ways and diftance. 
He told me that the neareft and leveleft 

# Or W abash, w linen by the French, Ouabach. 



General George Wajhington, 15 

way was now impaflable, by reafon of many 
large miry favannas ; that we muft be obli- 
ged to go by Venango, and fliould not get 
to the near fort under five or fix nights 
fleep, and good travelling. When he went 
to the fort, he faid he was received in a ve- 
ry ftern manner by the late commander ; 
who aiked him very abruptly, what he had 
came about, and to declare his buiinefs : 
which he faid he did in the following 
fpeech : — 

" Fathers, I am come to tell you your own 
fpeeches ; what your own mouths have de- 
clared. Fathers, you, in former days, fet 
a filver bafon before us, wherein there was 
a leg of a beaver,^ and defired all the na- 
tions to come and eat of it ; to eat in peace 
and plenty, arid not be churlifh to one anoth- 
er : and that if any fuch perfon fliould be 
found to be a difturber, 1 here lay down by 
the edge of the difli a rod, which you muft 
Icourge them with ; and if I, your father, 
ftiould get foolifli in my old days, I defire 
you may ufe it upon me as well as others. 

" Now, fathers, it is you who are the 
difturbers in this land, by coming and 



16 . Biographical Memoirs of 

building your towns ; and taking it away- 
unknown to us, and by force. 

" Fathers, we kindled a fire a long time 
ago at a place called Montreal, where we 
defired you to flay, and not to come and 
intrude upon our land. I now defire that 
you may difpatch to that place ; for be it 
known to you, fathers, that this is our 
land, and not yours. 

" Fathers, I defire you may hear me in 
civilnefs : if not, we mufl handle that rod 
which was laid down for the ufe of the ob- 
ftreperous. If you had come in a peacea- 
ble manner, like our brothers the Englifh, 
we fhould not have been againfl your tra- 
ding with us, as they do ^ But to come^ Path' 
ers, and build houfes upon our land, and to 
take it by force, is what zve cannot fubmit to. 

" Fathers, both you and the Englifh are 
white, we live in a country between ; there* 
fore the land belongs neither to the one 
nor the other : But the great Being above 
allowed it to be a place of refidence for us ; 
fo fathers I defire yuu to withdraw, as I 
have done our brothers the Englifh : For I 
will keep you at arm's length. I lay this 



General George Wajhington, 17 

down as a trial for both, to fee which will 
have the greateft regard to it, and that fide 
we will ftand by, and make equal fliares 
with us. Our brothers the Engiifli have 
heard this, and I am come now to tell it to 
you ; for I am not afraid to dicharge you off 
this land." 

This he faid was the fubftance of what 
he fpoke to the general, who made this re- 
ply : 

*^Now, my child, I have heard your 
fpeech : You fpoke firft, but it is my time 
to fpeak now. Where is my wampum 
that you took away, with the marks of 
towns in it ? This wampum I do not know, 
which you have difcharged me off the land 
with : But you need not put yourfelf to 
the trouble of fpeaking, for I will not hear 
you. I am not afraid of flies or musqui- 
toes, for Indians are fuch as thofe. I tell 
you, down that river I will go, and build 
upon it, according to my command. If 
the river was blocked up, I have forces 
fufEcient to burft it open, and tread under 
my feet all that fland in oppifition, togeth- 
er with their alliances ^ for my force is as 
B 2 , 



IS Bkgraphical Memoirs of\ 

the fand upon the fea fliure \ therefore^ 
^'here is your wampum, I fling it at you. 
Child you talk foolifli ; you fay this land 
belongs to you, but there is not the black 
of my nail yours. I faw that land fooner 
than you did, before the Shannoahs and 
you were at war : Lead was the man who 
went down and took pofleffion of that ri- 
ver ; It is my land, and I will have it, let 
who will ftand up for or fay againft it. I 
will buy and fell with the Englifli (mock- 
^"g^yO If people will be ruled by me they 
may exped kindnefs, but not elfe.*' 

The half king told me he had inquired 
of the general after the two Englifhmen 
who were made prifoners, and received 
this anfwer : 

" Child, you think it a very great hard- 
fliip that I made prifoners of thofe two 
people at Venango. Do not concern your- 
felf with it \ We took and carried them to 
Canada, to get intelligence of what the En- 
glifti were doing in Virginia/' 

He informed me that they had built two 
forts, one on Lake Erie, and another on 
French Creek, near a fmall lake about fif- 



General George Wajhington. 19 

teen miles afunder, and a large waggon- 
road between : They are both after the 
fame model, but different in fize j that on 
the Lake the largeft. He gave me a plan 
of them after his own drawing. 

The Indians enquired very particular af. 
ter their brothers in Carolina gaol. 

They alfo afked what fort of a boy it was 
who was taken from the South Branch j 
for they were told by fome Indians, that a 
party of French Indians had carried a white 
boy by Kalkalka Town, towards the Lake. 
. November 26, 1753. We met in coun- 
cil at the Long Houfe, at about 9 o'clock, 
where I fpoke to them as follows : — 

" -Brothers, I have called you together in 
council, by order of your brother, the gov- 
ernor of Virginia, to acquaint you, that I 
am fent, with all poffible difpatch, to vifit, 
and deliver a letter to the French comman- 
dant, of very great importance to your 
brothers the Englifli ; and I dare fay to you 
their friends and allies. 

" I was defired, brothers, by your broth- 
er, the governor, to call upon you, the fa- 
chems of the nation, to inform you of it. 



20 Biographical Memoirs of 

and to afk your advice and affiftance to pro- 
ceed the neareft and beft road to the 
French. You fee, brothers, I have gotten 
thus far on my journey. 

" His honor likewife defired me to apply 
to you for fome of your young men, to 
condud and provide provifions for us on 
our way : and be a fafeguard againfl thofe 
French Indians who have taken up the hat- 
chet againft us. I have fpoke this particu- 
larly to you, brothers, becaufe his honor, 
our governor, treats you as good friends 
and allies ; and holds you in great efteem. 
To confirm what 1 have faid, I give this 
firing of wampum." 

After they had confidered for fome 
time on the above difcourfe, the half king 
got up and I'poke : 

" Now my brother, in regard to what 
my brother the governor had defired me, 
I return you this anfwer. 

" I rely upon you as a brother ought to 
do, as you fay we are brothers and one 
people. We ftiall put heart in hand, and 
fpeak to our fathers the French concerning 
the fpeech they made to me: and you 



General George Wajhingion. 21 

may depend that we will endeavor to be 
your guard, 

" Brother, as you have afked my advice, 
I hope you wiJl be ruled by it, and ftay till 
I can provide a company to go with you. 
The French fpeech belt is not here. I have 
it to go for to my hunting cabin : likewife 
the people whom I have ordered in are not 
yet come, nor cannot till the third night 
from this ; till which time, brother, I muft 
hQg you to ftay. 

" I intend to fend the guard of Mingoes, 
Shannoahs and Delawares^ that our brothers 
may fee the love and loyalty we bear 
them" 

As I had orders to make all poffible dis- 
patch, and waiting here was very contrary 
to my inclination, I thanked him in the 
moft fuitable manner I could ; and told 
him that my bufinefs required the greateft 
expedition, and would not admit of delay. 
He was not well pleafed that I fhould offer 
to go before the time he had appointed, and 
told me that he could not confent to our 
going without a guard, for fear fome acci- 



-22 Biographical Memoirs of 

dent fhould befal us, and draw a reflexion 
upon him. Befides, fays he, this is a mat- 
ter of no fmall moment, and muft not be 
entered into without due conlideration : 
for now I intend to deliver up the French 
fpeech belt, and make the Shannoahs and 
Delawares do the fame. And accordingly 
he gave orders to the king Shingifs, -who 
was prefent, to attend on Wednelday night 
with the wampum, and two men of their 
nation to be in readinefs to fet out with us 
the next morning. As I found it impofli- 
ble to get off without affronting them in 
*the moft egregious manner, I confented to 
ilay. 

I gave them back a ftring of wampum, 
which I met with at Mr.Frazier's, and which 
they fent with a fpeech to his honor the gov- 
ernor, to inform him, that three nations of 
French Indians,viz. Chippoways, Ottoways, 
and Orundaks, had taken up the hatchet a- 
gainft the Englifh ; and defired them to re- 
peat it over again : but this they poftponed 
doing till they met in full council with the 
Shannoah and Delaware chiefs. 

27th. Runners were difpatched very ear. 



General George Wajhington. 23 

ly for the Shannoah chiefs. The half king 
fet out himfelf to fetch the French fpeech 
belt from his hunting cabin. 

28th. He returned this evening, and came 
with Monokatoocha,and two other Sachems 
to my tent ; and begged (as they had com- 
plied with liis honor the governor's requeft, 
in providing men, &c.) to know on what 
bufinefs we were going to the French ? — 
This was a queftion I all along expected, and 
had provided as fatisfad:ory anfwers to, as 
I could, which allayed their curiofity a lit- 
tle. 

Monokatoocha informed me, that an In- 
dian from Venango brought news, a few 
days ago, that the French had called all the 
Mingoes, Dlawares, &c. together at that 
place ; and told them that they intended to 
have been down the river this fall, but the 
waters were growing cold, and the winter 
advancing, which obliged them to go into 
quarters ; but that they might affuredly ex- 
pect them in the fpring, with a far greater 
number ; and defired that they might be 
quite paflive, and not to intermeddle, un- 
lefs they had a mind to draw all their force 



24 Biographical Memoirs of 

upon them : for that they expeded to fight 
the Englifli three years (as they fuppofed 
there would be fome attempts made to ftop 
them) in which time they fhould conquer : 
and that if they ftiould prove equally ftrong, 
they and the Englilh would join to cut them 
all off, and divide the land between them : 
that though they had loft their general, and 
fome few of their foldiers, yet there were 
men enough to reinforce them, and make 
them mafters of the Ohio. 

This fpeech, he faid, was delivered to 
them by one captain Joncaire, their inter- 
preter in chief, living at Venango, and a 
man of note in the army. 

2yth. The halfking and Monokatoocha 
came very early and begged me to ftay one 
day more ; for, notwithftanding they had 
ufed all the diligence in their power, the 
Shannoah chiefs had not brought the wam- 
pum they had ordered, but would certain- 
ly be in this night ; if not, they would de- 
lay me no longer, but would fend it atter us 
as foon as they arrived. When I found 
them fo preiling in their requeft, and knew 
that the returning of wampum was the a- 



General George Wajhington, 25 

bolifliing of agreements, and giving this up, 
was fhaking off all dependence upon the 
French, I confented to flay, as I believed an 
offence offered at this crifis, might be atten- 
ded with greater ill confequence than an- 
other day's delay. They aifo informed me 
that Shingifs could not get in his men ; and 
was prevented from coming himfelf by his 
wife's ficknefs, (I believe, by fear of the 
French) but that the wampum of that na- 
tion was lodged with Kuflaloga, one of their 
chiefs, at Venango. 
In the evening late, they came again and 
acquainted me that the Shannoah were not 
yet arrived, but that it fhould not retard 
the profecution of our journey. He deliv- 
ered in my hearing, the fpeeches that were 
to be made to the French by Jcfkakake, one 
of their old chiefs, which was giving up the 
belt the hte commandant had asked for, 
and repeating near the fame fpeech he him- 
felf had done before. 

He alfo delivered a firing of wampum to 
this chief who was fent by king Shingifs, to 
be given to Kuflaloga, with orders to repair 



26 Biographical Memoirs of 

to the French, and deliver up the wam- 
pum. 

He likewife gave a very large ftring of 
black and white wampum, which was to be 
fent up immediately to the Six Nations, if 
the French refufed to quit the land at this 
warning ; which was the third time, and 
was the right of this Jaifeakake to deliver. 

30th. Laft night the great men affem- 
bled at their council houfe, to confult fur- 
ther about this journey, and who were to 
go : the refult of which was, that only three 
of their chiefs, with one of their beft hun- 
ters, ftiould be our convoy. The reafon 
they gave for not fending more, after what 
had been propofed at council the 26th, wa& 
that a greater number might give theFrench 
fufpicions of fome bad deiign, and caufe 
them to be treated rudely : but I rather 
think they could not get their hunters in. 

We fet out about 9 o'clock with the half 
king, Jefkakake, White Thunder, and the 
Hunter ; and travelled on^he road to Ve- 
nango, where we arrived the 4th of Decem- 
ber, without any thing remarkable happen- 
ing, but a continued feries of bad weather> 



General George Wajhington, 27 

This is an old Indian town, fituated at 
the mouth of French-Creek on Ohio ; and 
lies near N. about fixty miles from the 
Loggs town, but more than feventy the 
way we were obliged to go. 

We found the French colors hoifted at a 
houfe from which they had driven Mr. John 
Frazier, an Englifli fubje^l. I immediately 
repaired to it, to know where the comman- 
der reiided. There were three officers, one 
of whom, captain Joncaire, informed me 
that he had the command of the Ohio 5 but 
that there was a general-officer at the near 
fort, where he advifed me to apply for an 
anfwer. He invited us to fup with them ; 
and treated us with the greateft complai- 
fance. 

The wine, as they dozed themfelves pret. 
ty plentifully with it, foon banifhed the re- 
ftraint which at firft appeared in their con- 
verfation ; andgave a licenfe to their tongues 
to reveal their fentiments more freely. 

They told me, that it was their abfolute 
^Q^ign to take pofTeffion of the Ohio, and 
by G** they would do it ; for that altho' 
they were fenfible the Englifh could raife 



28 Biographical Memoirs of 

two men for their one ; yet they knew, 
their motions were too flow and dilatory to 
prevent any undertaking of theirs. They 
pretend to have an undoubted right to the 
river from a difcovery made by one La 
Solle, fixty years ago ; and the rife of this 
expedition is, to prevent our fettling on the 
river or waters of it, as they had heard of 
fome families moving out in order thereto. 
From the beil intelligence I could get, there 
have been 1500 men on this fide Onta- 
rio Lake ; but upon the death of the gene- 
ral, all were recalled to about fix or feven 
hundred^ who were left to garrifon 4 forts, 
one hundred and fifty or thereabouts in 
each. The firll of them is on Fr. Creek, 
near a fmall Lake, about fixty miles from 
Venango, near N. N. W. The next lies on 
Lake-Erie, where the greater part of their 
ftores are kept, about fifteen miles from the 
Other. From this it is one hundred and 
20 miles to the carrying place, at the falls 
of Lake Erie, where there is a fmall fort ; 
which they lodge their goods at, in bring- 
ing them from Montreal, the place whence 
all their ftores come from. The next fort 



General George Wajhington. 29 

lies about twenty miles from this, on Onta- 
rio Lake. Between this fort and Montre- 
al there are three others, the firft of which 
is nearly oppofite to the Englifh Ft. of Ofvve- 
go. From the fort on Lake Erie to Mon- 
treal, is about fix hundred miles, which 
they fay requires no more, if good weath- 
er, than four weeks' voyage, if they go in 
barks or large veffels, fo they may crofs the 
lake ; but if they come in canoes it will re- 
quire five or fix weeks, for they are obli- 
ged to keep under the fliore. 

5th. Rained exceflively all day, which 
prevented our travelling. Captain Joncaire 
fent for the half king, as he had but juft 
heard that he came with me : he afFefted to 
be much concerned that I did not make 
free to bring them in before. I excufed it 
in the beft mannerlwascapable,and toldhim, 
I did not think their company agreeable, as 
I had heard him iay a good deal in difpraife 
of Indians in general. But another motive 
prevented me from bringing them into his 
company : I knew he was interpreter, and 
a perfon of very great influence among the 

Indians, and had lately ufed all poiSble 
C 2 



so Biographical Memoirs of 

means to draw them over to their intereft j 
therefore I was delirous of giving no op- 
portunity that could be avoided. 

When they came in, there was great 
pleafure expreffed at feeing them. He 
wondered how they could come fo near 
without coming to vifit him j made feveral 
trifling prefents j and applied liquor fo faft, 
that they were foon rendered incapable of 
the bufmefs they came about, notwithftan- 
ding the caution which was given. 

6th. The half-king came to my tentj 

quite fober, and infifted very much that I 

fhould flay and hear what he had to fay to 

the French. I fain would have prevented 

his fpeaking any thing, till he came to the 

commandant ; but could not prevail. He 

told me, that at this place a council fire was 

kindled, where all their bufinefs with thofe 

people was to be tranfa^ted : and that the 

management of the Indian affairs was left 

folely to Mens. Joncaire. As I was defirous 

of knowing the iffue of this, I agreed to 

ftay : but fent our horfes a little way up 

French Creek, to raft over and encamp: 

which I knew would make it near night. 



General George Wajhington. 31 

About ten o'clock they met in council. 
The king fpoke much the fame as he had 
before done to the general ; and offered the 
French fpeech belt which had before been 
demanded with the marks of four tcjwns 
on it, which Mons. Joncaire refufed to re- 
ceive ; but defired him to carry it to the 
fort to the commander. 

7th. Mons. La Force, commiffary of the 
French ftores, and three other foldiers, 
came over to accompany us up. We found 
it extremely difficult to get the Indians off 
to-day, as every flratagem had been ufed to 
prevent their going up with me. I had lafl 
night left John Davidfon (the Indian inter- 
preter) whom I had brought with me from 
town, and ftridly charged him not to be 
out of their company, as I could not get 
them over to my tent : for they had fome 
bufinefs with Kuflaloga, chiefly to know 
the reafon why he did not deliver up the' 
French belt which he had in keeping : but 
I was obliged to fend Mr Gifl over to-day 
to fetch them 5 which he did with great 
perfuafion. 

At twelve o'clock we fet t for the fort, 



32 Biographical Memoirs of 

and were prevented from arriving there 
till the llth, by exceffive rains, fnows, and 
bad travelling, through many mires and 
fwamps. Thefe we were obliged to pals, to 
avoid croffing the creek, which was impos- 
fible either by fording or rafting, the water 
was fo high and rapid. 

We paffed over much good land fince we 
left Venango, and through feveral extenfive 
and very rich meadows ; one of which, I 
believe, was nearly four miles in length, and 
confiderably wide in fome places. 

12th. I prepared early to wait on the 
commander, and was received and conduc* 
ted to him by the fecond officer in com- 
mand. I acquainted him with my bufi- 
nefs, and offered my commiffion and letter : 
both of which he defired me to keep till the 
arrival of Mons. Raparti, captain, at the 
next fort, who was fent for, and expected 
every hour. 

This commander is a knight of the mili- 
tary order of St. Lewis, and named Legar- 
deur de St. Pierre. He is an elderly gen- 
tleman, and has much the air of a foldier. 
He was fent over to take die command, im- 



General George Wajhinpon, SS 

mediately upon the death of the late gener- 
al, and arrived here about feven days before 
me. 

At two o'clock the gentleman who was 
fent for arrived, when I offered the letter 
&c. again ; which they received, adjourned 
into a private apartment for the captain to 
tranflate, who underflood a little Englifh. 
Atter he had done it, the commander defir- 
ed I would walk in, and bring my inter- 
preter to perufe and correct it \ which I 
did. 

13th. The chief officers retired, to hold a 
council of war ; which gave me an oppor- 
tunity of taking the dimeniions of the fort, 
and making what obfervations I could. 

It is fituated on the fouth or weft fork of 
French Creek, near the water ; and is al- 
moft fur rounded by the creek, and a fmall 
branch of it which forms a kind of ifland. 
Four houfes compofe the fides. The bas- 
tions are made of piles driven into the 
ground, ftanding more than twelve feet a- 
bove it, and fharp at the top ; with port- 
holes cut for cannon, and loop holes for 
fmall arms to fire through. There are 



S4f Biographical Memoirs of 

eight 6lb. pieces mounted in each baftlon ; 
and one piece of four pounds before the 
gate. In the baftions are a guard houfe, 
chapel, do(5lor's lodging, and the comman- 
der's private ftore j round which are laid 
platforms for the cannon and men to ftand 
on. There are feveral barracks without 
the fort for the foldiers* dwelling ; covered, 
fome with bark, and fome with boards, 
made chiefly of logs. There are alfo fev- 
eral other houfes, fuch as ftables, fmith's 
fliops, &c. 

I could get no certain account of the 
number of men here ; but according to the 
beft judgment I could form, there are an 
hundred excludve of officers, of which 
there are many. I alfo gave orders to the 
people who were with me, to take an exad 
account of the canoes which were hauled 
up to convey their forces down in the 
fpring. This they did, and told fifty of 
birch bark, and one hundred and feventy 
of pine J befides many others which were 
blocked out, in readinefs to make. 

14th. As the fnow increafed very faft, 
and our horfes daily became weaker, I fent 



General George Wajhingfoju 35 

them ofFunloaded, under the care of Barn- 
aby Currin, and two others, to make all 
convenient difpatch to Venango, and there 
to wait our arrival, if there was a profped 
of the river's freezing ; if not, then to con- 
tinue down to Shannapin's town, at the 
forks of the Ohio, and there to wait till we 
came to crofs Allegany ; intending myfelf 
to go down by water, as I had the offer of a 
canoe or two. 

As I found many plots concerted to re- 
tard the Indians' bufinefs, and prevent their 
returning with me ; I endeavored all that 
lay in my power to fruftrate their fchemes 
and hurry them on to execute their inten- 
ded defign. They accordingly preffed for 
admittance this evening, which at length 
was granted them, privately, with the com- 
mander and one or two other officers. The 
half-king told me, that he offered wampum 
to the commander, who evaded taking it, 
and made many fair promifes of love and 
friendfhip ; faid he wanted to live in peace, 
and trade amicably with them, as a projf 
of which he would fend fome goods imme- 
diately down to the Loggs Town, for them* 



36 Biographical Memoirs of 

But I rather think the defign of that is to 
bring away all our ftraggling traders they 
meet with, as I privately underftood they 
intended to carry an officer, &c. with them. 
And what rather confirms this opinion, 
I inquired of the commander, by what 
authority h€ had made prifoners of feveral 
of our Englifh fubjects. He told me that 
the country belongmg to them, no Eng- 
man had a right to trade upon thofe w^a- 
ters ; and that he had orders to make ev- 
ery one prifoner who attempted it on the 
Ohio, or the waters of it. 

I enquired of captain Riparti about the 
boy who was carried by this place, as it was 
done while the command devoU ed upon 
him between the death of the late general 
and the arrival of the prefent. He ac- 
knowledged that a boy had been carried 
paft ; and that the Indians had two or 
three white men's fcalps, [\ was told by 
fome of the Indians at Venango eight) but 
pretended to have forgotten the name of the 
place which the boy came from, and all 
the particular fa(51:s, though he had ques- 
tioned him for fome hours, as they were 



General George Wajhingion, 37 

carrying him paft. I likewife inquired 
what they had done with John Trotter and 
James Mac Clocklin, two Pennfylvania tra- 
ders, whom they had taken, with all their 
goods. They told me they had been fent 
to Canada, but were now returned home. 

This evening I received an anfwer to his 
honor the governor's letter, from the com- 
mandant. 

15th. The commandant ordered a plen- 
tiful ftore of liquor, provifion, &c. to be 
put on board our canoe ; and appeared to 
be extremely complaifant, though he was 
exerting every artifice which he could in- 
vent to fet our Indians at variance with us, 
to prevent their going until after our depar- 
ture. Prefents, rewards, and every thing 
which could be fuggefted by him or his offi- 
cers. I cannot fay that ever in my life I 
fuffered fo much anxiety as I did in this af- 
fair : I faw that every ftratagem which the 
mod fruitful brain could invent, was prac- 
tifed, to win the half-king to their intereft ; 
and that leaving him there was giving them 
the opportunity they aimed at. I went to 
the half-king and preffed him in the ftrong- 
D 



38 Biographical Memoirs of 

eft terms to go : he told me the command- 
ant would not difcharge him till the mor- 
ning. I then went to the commandant, 
and defired him to do their bulinefs ; and 
complained of ill-treatment : For keeping 
them, as they were part of my company, 
was detaining me. This he promifed not 
to do, but to forward my journey as much 
as he could. He protefted he did not keep 
them, but was ignorant of the caufe of their 
ftay ; though I foon found it out — He had 
promifed them a prefent of guns, &c. if 
they would wait till the morning. As I 
was very much prefTed by the Indians to 
wait this day for them, I confented, on a 
promife that nothing fhould hinder them 
in the morning. 

16th. The French were not flack in their 
inventions to keep the Indians this day al- 
fo ; But as they were obligated, according 
to promife, to give the prefent, they then 
endeavored to try the power of liquor; 
which I doubt not would have prevailed at 
any other time than this : but I urged and 
infiiled with the king, fo clofely upon his 



General George Wajloington* 39 

word, that he refrained, and fet off with us 
as he had engaged. 

We had a tedious and very fatiguing 
paffage down the creek. Several times we 
had like to have been ftaved againft the 
rocks ; and many times were obliged all 
hands to get out and remain in the water 
half an hour or more, getting over the 
flioals. At one place the ice had lodged 
and made it impaffable by water ; there- 
fore we were obliged to carry our canoe a- 
crofs a neck of land, a quarter of a mile o- 
ver. We did not reach Venango till the 
22d, where we met with our horfes. 

This creek is extremely crooked. I dare 
fay the diftance between the fort and Ve- 
nango cannot be lefs than 130 miles to fol- 
low the meanders. 

23d. When I got ready to fet off, I fent 
for the half-king, to know whether he in- 
tended to go with us or by water. He told 
me that White Thunder had hurt him- 
feif much, and was fick and unable to 
walk ; therefore he was obliged to carry 
him down in a canoe. As I found he in- 
tended to ftay here a day or two, and knew 



40 Biographical Memoirs of 

that Monfieur Joncaire would employ every 
fcheme to fet him againft the Englifli as he 
had before done, I told him I hoped he 
would be guarded againft his flattery, and 
let no fine fpeeches influence him in their 
favor. He defired I might not be concern- 
ed, for he knew the French too well, for a- 
ny thing to engage him in their behalf ; and 
though he could not go down with us, he 
yet would endeavor to meet at the forks 
with Jofeph Campbell, to deliver a fpeech 
for me to carry to his honor the Governor. 
He told me he would order the young 
Hunter to attend us, and get provifion, &c. 
if wanted. 

Our horfes were now fo weak and feeble, 
and the baggage fo heavy (as we were obli- 
ged to provide all the neceflaries which the 
journey required^ that we doubted much 
their performing it : Therefore myfelf and 
others (except the drivers who were obliged 
to ride) gave up our horfes for packs, to as- 
fift along with the baggage. I put myfelf 
in an Indian walking drefs, and continued 
-with them three days, till I found there was 
no probability of their getting home in any 



General George Wa/hington. 41 

reafonable time. The horfes grew lefs able 
to travel every day ; the cold encreafed ve- 
ry faft ; and the roads were becoming much 
worfe by a deep fnow, continually free- 
zing ; Therefore as I was uneafy to get 
^ back, to make report of my proceedings to 
his honor the governor, I determined to 
profecute my journey the neareft way 
through the woods, on foot. 

Accordingly I left Mr. Vanbram in 
charge of our baggage j with money and di- 
redions to provide neceffaries from place to 
place for themfelves and horfes, and to 
make the moft convenient difpatch in trav- 
elling. 

I took my neceffary papers ; pulled off 
my clothes ; and tied myfelf up in a match 
coat. — Then with gun in hand, and pack at 
my back, in which were my papers, and 
provifions, I fet out with Mr. Gift, fitted in 
the fame manner, on Wednefday the 26th. 
The day following, juft after we had paffed 
a place called Murdering Town, (where we 
intended to quit the path, and fteer acrofe 
the country for Shannapin* town) we feU 
D 2 



42 Biographical Memoirs of 

in with a party of French Indians, who had 
laid in wait for us. One of them fired at 
Mr. Gift or me, not 15 fteps off, but fortu- 
nately miffed. We took this fellow into cus- 
tody, and kept him until about five o'clock 
at night : Then let him go, and walked all 
the remainder of the night without making 
any ftop ; that we might get the ftart fo far, 
as to be out of the reach of their purfuit 
the next day, fince we were well affured 
they would follow our track as foon as it 
was light. The next day we continued 
travelling till quite dark, and got to the ri- 
ver about two miles above Shannapins. We 
expelled to have found the river frozen, 
but it was not, only about 50 yards from 
each fhore : the ice I fuppofe had broken 
above, for it was driving in vaft quanti- 
ties. 

There was no way for getting over but 
on a raft ; which we fet about with one 
poor hatchet, and finifhed it juft after fun- 
fetting. This was a whole day's work ; 
We next got it launched, and went on 
board of it \ Then fet off. But before we 



General George Wojhmglon. 43 

were halfway over, we werejamiDedin the 
ice, in fuch a manner that we expeded 
every monaent our raft to fink and our- 
felves to perifh. I put out my fetting- 
pole to flop the raft, that the ice might 
pafs by ; when the rapidity of the fb earn 
threw it with fo much violence againft the 
pole, that it jirked me out into ten feet wa- 
ter : But I fortunately faved myfelf by 
catching hold of one of the raft logs. Not- 
withflanding all our efforts, we could not 
get to either fhore ; but were obliged, as 
we were near an ifland, to quit our raft and 
make to it. 

The cold was fo extremely fevere, that 
Mr. Gifi had all his fingers, and fome of 
his toes frozen ; and the water (hut up fo 
hard, that we found no difficulty in getting 
off the ifland on the ice, in the morning; and 
went to Mr. Frazier's. We met here with 
twenty warriors who were going to the 
fouthward to war : But coming to a place 
upon the head of the great Kanhaway, 
where they found feveral people killed and 
fcalped (all but one woman with very 
light hair) they turned about and ran 



44 Biographical Memoirs of . 

back for fear the inhabitants fliould rife and 
take them as the authors of the murder. 
They report that the bodies were lying a- 
bout the houfe and fome of them much 
torn and eaten by the hogs : By the marks 
which were left, they fay they were French 
Indians of the Ottoway nation, &c. who 
did it. 

As we intended to take horfes here, and 
it required fome time to find them, I went 
about three miles to the mouth of the 
Yaughyaughgane to vifit Queen AUiquippa, 
who had expreffed great concern that we 
paffed her in going to the fort. I made her 
a prefent of a match coat and a bottle of 
rum, which latter was thought much the 
beft prefent of the two. 

Tuefday the firft day of January, we left 
Mr. Frazier's houfe, and arrived at Mr. 
Gift's at Monongahela the 2d, where I 
bought a horfe, faddle, &c. The 6th we 
met 17 horfes loaded with materials and 
ftores for a fort at the forks of the Ohio, 
and the fame day fome families going out 
to fettle : This day we arrived at Wills- 
Creek, after as fatiguing a journey as it is 



General George Wajhington, 45 

poffible to conceive, rendered fo by exceffive 
bad weather^ From the firft day of De- 
cember to the 15th, there was but one day 
in which it did not rain or fnow inceffantly ; 
and throughout the whole journey we met 
with nothing but one continued feries of 
cold wet weather, which occafioned very 
uncomfortable lodgings; efpecially after 
we had quitted our tent, which was fome 
icreen from the inclemency of it. 

On the 1 Ith I got to Belvoir : where I 
flopped one day to take neceffary reft ; and 
then fet out, and arrived at Williamsburg 
the 1 6th ; when I waited on his honor the 
governor with the letter I had brought 
from the French commandant ; and to 
give an account of the fuccefs of my pro- 
ceedings. This I beg leave to do by offer- 
ing the foregoing narrative, as it contains 
the moft remarkable occurrences which 
happened in my journey. 

I hope what has been faid will be fuffi- 
cient to make your honor fatisfied with 
my condud ; for that was my aim in un- 
dertaking the journey, and chief ftudy 
throughout the profecution of it. 



46 Biographical Memoirs of 

With the hope of doing it, I, with infi- 
nite pleafure fubfcribe myfelf. 
Your honor's moft obedient, 

and very humble fervant, 

G. WASHINGTON. 

ON his return from this perilous embas- 
fy, with MoTis. de St. Pierre's anfwer, and 
his good fuccefs in the Indian negociations, 
major Wafhington was complimented with 
the thanks and approbation of his country. 
His journal does great credit to his indus- 
try, attention, and judgment ; ard it has 
fince proved of infinite fervice to those who 
have been doom.ed to traverfe the fame in- 
hofpitable trads. 

Gov. Dinwiddle's letter to the French 
commandant and M. de St. Pierre's anfwer 
have been publifhed in feveral periodical 
Works, both in America and Britain. The 
governor's letter fiated, that he had heard 
with furprife and concern, that the French 
were ere6ling fortreffes and making fettle- 
ments on the lands upon the river Ohio, 
which are the property of the crown of 
Great Britain ; in confequence of which. 



General George Wajhington. 47 

he IS induced in the name of the king, to 
fend the bearer, G, Wafhington, Efq ; one 
of the adjutants general of the forces of Vir- 
ginia, to complain of the encroachments 
made in violation of the treaties fubfifting 
between the two crowns, requefting by 
whofe authority he had marched from Ca- 
nada with an armed force to invade the Bri- 
tifh territories, and that the French forces 
depart peaceably, without prcfecuting a 
purpofe lo interrupting to the public har- 
mony which his majefty is fo defirous to 
continue and cultivate with the moft Chris- 
tian King. Alfo, that major Waftiington 
might be entertained with the politenefs due 
to his rank. The French commandant's 
anfwer only ftated, that he would tranfmit 
the governor's letter to Canada, to his gen- 
eral the marquis du Quefhe, by whofe an- 
fwer he would be guided ; that he was up- 
on French ground, by the orders of his gen- 
eral, confequently that he could not obey 
the fummons of the governor ; and that 
he had made it his particular care to receive 
Mr, Wafhington with the diftindion fuit- 
able to his dignity. 



48 Biographical Memoirs of 

In ] 754, the defigns of the French beco- 
ming more manifeft, and their movements 
more daring, orders were iffued by admin- 
iftration for the colonies to arm ard u- 
nite in one confederacy. The affembly of 
Virginia took the lead, by voting a fum of 
money for the public fervice, and railing a 
regiment for the protection of the frontiers 
of the colony. Of this corps, Mr. Fry, one 
of the profeffors of the college, was appoint- 
ed colonel, and major Walhington received 
the commiffion of lieutenant-colonel. But 
colonel Fry died without ever having join- 
ed ; and of courfe left his regiment to the 
fecond in command. He began his march 
on the fecond of April, from Alexandria, 
having under his command one hundred 
and fifty men. His orders were to march 
towards the Ohio, there to affitt capt. Trent 
to build forts, and defend the poffeffions of 
his majefty againil the attempts and hoftili- 
ties of the French. During his march he 
was joined by a fmall detachment under 
the command of capt. Stephens, and when 
he had proceeded as far as Wills- Creek, he 
received intelligence that capt. Trent had 



General George WqfhingUn, 49 

been obliged to furrender the fort which 
he had ereded between the Ohio and 
French Creek, to a body of about eight 
hundred French, commanded by capt. Con- 
trecoeur ; whereupon, colonel Wafhington, 
deeming it impracticable to march towards 
the fort without fufficient force, thought it 
moll: prudent to proceed to open roads fo 
as to pre-occupy the advantageous poft at 
the confluence of the Allegany and Monon- 
gahela rivers, which in his preceding jour- 
nal he recommends for that purpofe. He 
was to have been joined by a detachment 
of independent regulars from the fouthern 
colonies, together with fome companies of 
provincials from North Carolina and Ma- 
ryland. But perceiving the neceffity of ex- 
pedition, and without waiting for their ar- 
rival, he commenced his march ; but, not- 
withftanding his precipitated advance, the 
French had already taken poffeffion and e- 
reded a fortification, which they named 
fort Du Quefne^ in honor of the marquis du 
Quefne, the French governor of Canada. 

Colonel Wafhington accordingly procee- 
ded on his march from Wills-Creek \ brave- 
E 



30 . Biographical Memoirs of 

ly encountering all the obftacles and difE- 
culties of an impervious wildernefs, croiTing 
mires, favannas, and rivers. His men 
vi^ere fometimes forced to ford risers fo 
deep as to take them up to the arm pits ; 
when he had proceeded as far as Turkey- 
foot, he received information that a party 
of French, commanded by M. de Jumon- 
ville, were concealed within a fhort diftance 
of his camp: whereupon he fecured hi» 
waggons and put himfelf in the beft means 
of defence he was capable of, until he had 
learned the ftrength of the enemy, and the 
place where they were. 

Having received from the Indians the ne- 
ceflary information, on the night of the 
27th May, he fet out with his men (except 
about forty, which was left to guard his 
ammunition, &c.) and a party of Indians, 
which the half king fent to his affiftance, 
under a heavy rain, and a night dark as 
pitch, they travelled along a path fcarcely 
wide enough for one man : they were 
fometimes fifteen or twenty minutes out of 
the path before they could come to it again, 
and fo dark, that they would often ftrike 



General George WaJhi?igton. 51 

one againft another ; all night they contin- 
ued their route, and in the morning about 
fun. rife, formed themfelves for an engage- 
ment, marching one after another in the 
Indian manner, and the enemy did not dis- 
cover them until they were clofe upon 
them, when colonel Wafhington's compa- 
ny fired, and was fupported by Mr- Wa- 
ger's ; thefe two companies received the 
whole fire of the French, which lafted a 
quarter of an hour before the enemy was 
routed out. M. de Jumonville and nine oth- 
ers were killed, one wounded, and twenty- 
one made prifoners. Among the prifoners 
was the celebrated woodsman, Mons. de la 
Force, commiflary of the French {lores, 
and two other officers. Only one of the 
whole party efcaped. A Canadian, named 
Moncean, made fuch a report of the action 
as to imprefs upon the minds of the French, 
a belief, that Colonel Wafhington's condud 
was highly treacherous and diihonorable. 
The French account of this engagement is 
contained in a letter from M. de Contre- 
coeur to the marquis du Quefne, dated fort 
du Quesne, May 23, 1754. It ftates that 



52 Biographical Memoirs of 

M. de Jumonville fet out with a fmall efcort, 
charged with a written fummons, in form 
of a letter, diredledto the firft Englifh ofE- 
cer he fhould meet on the lands claimed by 
the French king, fummoning him to with- 
draw his troops in peace from faid territo- 
ry, otherwife that they would repel force 
to force, defiring the Engliili officer fliould 
return his anfwer by M. de Jumonville, and 
to treat that officer with that diflindion and 
refpect which he deferved, that the deputy 
fet out, and next morning found himfelf 
furrouiided by a number of Englilh and In- 
dians, that the Englifh quickly fired two 
voUies, which killed fome ibldiers, that M. 
Jumonville made a fign that he had a letter 
from his commander, whereupon the fire 
ceafed, and the Englifh furrounded the 
French officer, in order to hear it, that he 
was reading the fummons a fecond time, 
when he was killed by a mufket Ihot in the 
head, that had it not been for the Indians, 
who rufhed in between the French and En- 
glifh, the former would have been all afTas- 
fmated, and that the Indians did not fire up. 
on the French. This report was made the 



General George Wajhingion, 5S 

moft of by the French, who impreffed it 
upon the minds of the furrounding Indians, 
as a moft fhocking and bafe murder perpe- 
trated by the exprefs corr.mand of Colonel 
Wafhington. But the following extrad 
from Colonel Wafhington's Journal of his 
proceeding's given in to Governor Dinwid- 
die, places the tranfadions in quite a diflPer- 
ent point of view, he ftates, viz. " We 
were advanced pretty near to them as we 
thought, when they difcovered us ; where- 
upon I ordered my company to fire, mine 
was fupported by Mr. Wager's, and my 
company and his, received the whole fire 
of the French during the greateft part of 
the adion, which only lafted a quarter of 
an hour, before the enemy was routed, 

« We killed M. de Jumonville the com- 
mander of that party, as alfo nine others ; 
we wounded one, and made twenty-one 
prifoners, among whom were M. de la 
Force, M. Dronillon, and two Cadets. The 
Indians fcalped the dead, and took away 
moft part of their fire arms, after which 
we marched on with the prifoners and 
guard, to the Indian camp, where again I 
E 2 



54 Biographical Memoirs of 

held a council with the half- king ; and 
there informed him, that the governor was 
defirous to fee him, and was waiting for 
him at Winchefter ; he anfwered, that he 
could not go juft then, as his people were 
in too imminent danger from the French, 
whom they had fallen upon ; that he muft 
fend a mefienger, to all the allied nations, 
in order to invite them to take up the 
hatchet. He fent a young Delaware In- 
dian to the Delaware Nation, and gave him 
alfo a French fcalp to carry to them. This 
young man defired to have a part of the 
prefents which were allotted for them, but 
that the remaining part might be kept for 
another opportunity : He faid he would go 
to his own family, and to feveral others, 
and would wait on them at Mr. Gift's 
where he defired men and horfes fliould be 
fent i'eady to bring them up to our camp. 
After this I marched on with our prifon- 
ers : They informed me that they had 
been fent with a fummons to order me to 
depart. A plaufible pretence to difcover 
our camp, and to obtain the knowledge of 
our force and fituation ! It was fo clear 



General George Wajhingion. 55 

that they were come to reconnoitre what 
we were, that I admired their affurance, 
%vheR they told me they were come as an 
Embaffy ; for their inftru<5lions mentioned 
that they fliould get what knowledge they 
could of the roads, rivers, and of all the 
country as far as the Potomack : and in- 
ftead of coming as an ambaffador, publicly, 
and in a^ open manner, they came fecretly, 
and fought after the moft hidden retreats, 
more like deferters than ambaffadors ; in 
fuch retreats they encamped, and remain- 
ed hid whole days together, and that, no 
no more than five miles from us ; from 
thence they fent fpies to reconnoitre our 
camp ; after this was done, they went 
back two miles, from whence they fent 
the two melTengers fpoken of in the in- 
ftrudion, to acquaint M. de Contrecceuer 
of the place we were at, and of our difpo- 
lition, that he might fend his detachments 
to inforce the fummons as foon as it fhould 
be given, 

" Befides, an ambaffador has princely at- 
tendants J whereas this was only a fimple 
petty French officer j an ambaffador has no 



56 Biographical Memoirs of 

need of fpies, his character being always 
facred : And feeing their intentions was fo 
good, why did they tarry two days, at five 
miles diftance from us, without acquainting 
me with the fummons, or, at leaft, with 
fomething that related to the embaffy ? 
That alone would be fufEcient to raife the 
greateft fufpicions : we ought to do them 
the juftice to fay, that, as they wanted to 
hide themfelves, they could not pick out a 
better place than they had done, 

" The fummons was fo infolent, and fa- 
vored the gafconade fo much, that if it had 
been brought openly by two men, it would 
have been an immediate indulgence to have 
fuffered them to return. 

" h was the opinion of the half king in 
this cafe, that their intentions were evil, 
and that it was a pure pretence ; that they 
never intended to come to us but as ene- 
mies ; and if we had been fuch fools as to 
let them go, they would never help us any 
more to take other Frenchmen. 

" They fay they called to us as foon as 
they had difcovered us, which is an abfo- 
lute falfehoodj for, I was then marching at 



General George Wajhington. 57 

the head of the company going towards 
them, and can pofitively affirm, that when 
they firft favv us, they ran to their arms, 
without calling ; as I muft have heard them, 

had they fo done." 

From the French prifoners, colonel Wafli- 
ington had intelligence, that the French 
forces on the Ohio confided of upwards of 
one thoufand regulars, and fome hundreds 
of Indians. Upon this intelligence, and con- 
lidering his little army which was fome- 
what reduced, and entirely infufficient to 
ad ofFenfive againft the French and Indians, 
he fell back to a place known by the appeU 
lation of the Great Meadows^ for the fake of 
forage and fup plies. Here he built a tem- 
porary ftockade, merely to cover his flores ; 
it was from its fate called Fort Necejftty, 
Col. Wafhington was too fenfible of the ad- 
vantages of Fort du Quefne, to abandon the 
idea of taking it. Ever fmce he left Wills- 
Creek, he had been indefatigable in his ex- 
ertions to form the regiment, open rv>ads, 
and gain the Indians over to the fide of the 
Englifli, as aifo to watch the operations of 
the French, and gaio a knowledge of the 



58 Biographical Memoirs of 

«*' 

forts, iituation, and force, even as far as 

the lakes. He had wrote to the governors 
of Pennfylvania and Maryland, requefting 
their aid in the augmentation of his army. 
He remained at Fort Neceflity for the arri- 
val of fome expeded fuccor from New- 
York and Pennfylvania, unmolefted, until 
Xuly following, when his fmall force, even 
after it was joined by capt. M'Kay's regu- 
lars did not amount to four hundred effec- 
tives, was attacked by an army of French 
and Indians, computed to have been fixteen 
hundred flrong, under the command of the 
sieur de Villiers, the brother of M. de 
Jumonville. The chief intention of this 
campaign, the French officer acknowledged, 
was to revenge the affailination of his bro- 
ther, and to hinder any eftablifhments on 
the lands claimed by the king of France. 

The Virginians fuflained the attack of 
the enemy's v/hole force for feveral hours, 
and laid two hundred of them dead on the 
field, when the French commander, dif- 
couraged by fuch determined refolution, 
propofed the lefs dangerous method of dis- 
lodging his enemy by a parley, which end- 



General George Wajhington. 59 

ed in a capitulation. It was ftipulated that 
colonel Wafhington fliould march away 
with all the honors of war, and be allowed 
to carry off all his military (lores, effeds 
and baggage. This capitulation was viola- 
ted from the ungovernable dispofition of 
the Indians, whom the French commander 
could not reftrain from plundering the pro- 
vincials on the outfet of their march, and 
from making a confiderable flaughter of 
men, cattle and horfes. After this disafler 
the remains of the Virginia regiment retur- 
ned to Alexandria to be recruited and fur- 
Tiilhed with neceffary fupplies : during this 
period, the French redoubled their adivity 
and diligence on the Ohio, and in other 
.places, and Virginia who determined to 
fend out a larger force, in the fpring fol- 
lowing, erected the forts Cumberland and 
London, and formed a camp at Wills- 
Creek, in order to annoy the enemy on 
the Ohio. In thefe feveral fervices (par- 
ticularly in the conftrudion of forts) colonel 
Wafhington was principally employed. 

In 1755, the Britifh government fent to 
this country, general Braddock, who was 



€0 biographical Memoirs of 

appointed to the command of all the troops 
and forces which were, or that fliould be 
raifed in, or fent to North America ; he 
landed at Williamfburg, Virginia, in Feb- 
ruary, with two veteran regiments from 
Ireland, but fent his men up the Potomac 
to Alexandria, there to encamp until he 
was joined with the independent and pro* 
vincial corps of America ; with this army 
he was to penetrate through the country to 
fort du Quefne (now fort Pitt) by the 
route of Wiils-Creek to repel the French 
from the confines of the Britifli fettlements, 
and as no perfon was better acpuainted with 
the frontier country than Colonel Wafli* 
ington, and no one in the colony enjoyed 
fo well eftabliflied a military character, he 
was judged to be highly ferviceable to Gen. 
Braddock, but from a royal arrangement of 
rank, by which, " no officer who did not 
derive his commiffion immediately from 
the king could command one who did." 
Colonel Wafliington relinquiftied his regi- 
ment, and went as an extra aid-de camp in- 
to the family of General Braddock. In 
this capacity, at the battle of Monongahela, 



General George Wajhingion, 61 

on the 9th of July, 1755, he attended that 
general, whofe life was gallantly facrificed 
in attempting to extricate his troops from 
the fatal ambufcade into which his over* 
weaning confidence had conduced them, 
Braddock had feveral horfes (hot under 
him, before he fell himfelf j and there was 
not an officer, whofe duty obliged him to 
be on horfeback that day, excepting colonel 
Wafhington, who was not either killed or 
wounded. This circumftance enabled him 
to display greater abilities in covering the 
retreat and faving the wreck of the army, 
than he could otherwife have done. As 
foon as he had fecured their palTage over 
the ford of Monongahela, and found they 
were not purfued, he hafted to concert mea- 
fures for their further fecurity with Col. 
Dunbar, who had remained with the fecond 
divifion and heavy baggage at . fome dift- 
ance in the rear. To efFed; this he travelled 
W^ith two guides, all night, through an al- 
moft impervious wildernefs, notwithftand- 
ing the fatigues he had undergone in the 
day, and although he had fo imperfedly re- 
covered from ficknefs, that he was obliged 

F 



62 Biographical Memoirs of 

m the morning to be fupported with cufli- 
ions on his horfe. The public accounts in 
Britain and America were not parfmioni* 
%tis of applaufe for the effential fervice he 
had rendered on fo trying an occaiion. 

Not long after this time, the regulation 
of rank, which had been fo injurious to 
the colonial oiBcers, was changed to their 
fatisfadion, in confequence of the difcon- 
tent of the officers, and the remonflrance 
of colonel Wafhington. The fupreme 
power of Virginia, impreflfed with a due 
fenfe of his merits, gave him, in a new and 
extenfive commiffion, the command of all 
the troops raifed and to be raifed in that 
colony. 

It would not comport with the intended 
brevity of this (ketch, to mention in detail 
the plans he fuggefted or the fyftem he pur- 
fued for defending the frontiers, until the 
year 1758, when he commanded the vaa 
brigade of general Forbe's army in the cap- 
ture of Fort du Quesne. A fimilar reafon 
will preclude the recital of the perfonal ha- 
zards and achievements which happened in 
the courfe of his fervice. The tranquillity 



General George Wajhington. 63 

on the frontiers of the middle colonies ha- 
ving been reftored by the fuccefs of this 
campaign, and the health of colonel Wafh* 
ington having become extremely debilita* 
ted by an inveterate pulmonary complaint, 
in 1759 he refigned his military ap- 
pointment. Authentic documents are not 
wanting to fhew the tender regret which 
the Virginia line expreffed at parting with 
their commander, and the affedionate re- 
gard which he entertainea for them. 

Shortly after colonel Wafhington's refig- 
nation, his health was gradually reeftablifli- 
ed and he married Mrs, Cuftis,* an amiable 
young widow, faid to have poffeffed a for- 
tune of twenty thoufand pounds fterling 
(about 88,900 dollars) in her own right, 
befides her dower in one of the principal 
eftates in Virginia. With this lady colonel 
Waftiington fettled as a planter and farmer 
on his eftate in Fairfax cnuntv, Virginia. 

After fome years he gave up planting to- 
bacco, and went altogether into the farming 
bufinefs. He has railed feven thoufand 

* Gen. and Mrs. Washington wsrf both born in the same 
year. 



64 Biographical Memoirs of 

buftiels of wheat, and ten thoufand of In- 
dian corn in one year. Although he had 
confined his own cultivation to this domes- 
*' tic tracl of about nine thoufand acres, yet 
he poiTefTed excellent lands, in large quan- 
tities, in feveral other counties. His judg. 
ment in the quality of foils, his command 
of money to avail himfelf of purchafes, and 
his occafional employment in early life as 
furveyor, gave him opportunities of ma- 
king advantageous locations ; many of 
which are much improved. 

After he left the army, until the year 
1 774, he tlins cultivated the arts of peace. 
He was conflantly a member of aflembly, a 
magiftrate of his county, and a judge of 
court. At this period he v/as appointed by 
the alTembly of Virginia, in conformity of 
the univerfal wifli of the people, to be one 
of their four delegates at the firft general 
Congrefs of delegates from all the provin-^ 
ces which met at Philadelphia on the 26th 
of Oci:ober, 1774, and confifted of fifty-one 
members. It was with no fmall reluctance 
that he engaged again in the adive fcenes of 
life J and we fuicerely believe that no mo* 



General George Wajhington. 65 

lives but fuch as fpring from the moft dis- 
interefted patriotifm, could have prevailed 
upon him to relinquifh the mofl refined 
domeflic pleafure, which it was ever m his 

' power to command, and the great delight 
he took in farming and the improvement 
of his eftate. 

He was alfo appointed delegate to the 
Congrefs which afl'embled in 1775, in which 
it was at length determined, after every 
flep towards an accommodation had failed, 
and every petition from America had been 
rejeded, to repel by force the invafion from 
Great'Britain, the eyes of the whole conti- 
nent were immediately turned upon Mr. 
Wafliington. With one common voice he 
was called forth to the defence of his coun- 
try ; and it is, perhaps, his peculiar glory 
that tliere was not a fingle inhabitant of 

^ thefe dates, except himfelf, who did not ap. 
prove the choice, and place the firmeft con- 
fidence in his integrity and abilities. 

He arrived at Cambridge in New-Eng- 
land in July, 1775, and there took the su- 
preme command of the Army of the United 
Colonies. Previous to this period, hoftili- 
F 2 



68 Biographical Memoirs of 

ties had adlually commenced. On the l9th 
of April, 1775, blood was firft flied at the 
battle of Concord i on the 16th of June 
following, the memorable battle of Breed's- 
hill, commonly called Bunker's-hill was 
fought. 

General Wafhington was received at the 
camp with heart felt exultation, which fu- 
perior merit alone can infpire, after having, 
in his progrefs through the feveral ftates, 
received every mark of afFedion and es- 
teem, which they conceived were due to 
the man, whom the whole continent look- 
ed up to for fafety and freedom. 

The following addrefs was prefented to 
him on his accepting the fupreme com- 
mand of the army, by the provincial Con- 
grefs of New- York, viz. 



ADDRESS, 

Presented to his excellency General Washington 
by the provincial Congress of New-Tor k. 

May it please ^our Excellency, 
At a time when the moft loyal of his ma- 

jefty's fubjefts, from a regard to the laws 



General George Wajhington. 67 

and conftitution, by which he fits on the 
throne, feel themfelves reduced to the un- 
happy neceflity of taking up arms, to de- 
fend their dearefl rights and privileges — 
while we deplore the calamities of this di- 
vided empire, we rejoice in the appoint- 
ment of a gentleman, from whofe abiUties 
and virtue we are taught to expect both 
fecurity and peace. 

Confiidng in you, fir, and in the wor- 
thy generals immediately under your com- 
mand, we have the moft flattering hopes of 
fuccefs in the glorious ftruggle for Ameri- 
can liberty, and the fuUeft ailurances, that, 
whenever this important conteft {hall be de- 
cided, by that fondefl wifli of each Amer- 
ican foul, an accommodation with our mo- 
ther country, you will cheerfully refign the 
important depofit committed into your 
hands, and reaflume the charadler of our 
worthieft citizen. 
By order, 

P. V. B. Livingston, 
Presidents 
NeW'Iorky June 26, 1775. 



68 Biographical Memoirs of 

GENERAL WASHIjYGTON'S ANSWER, 

Gentlemen, 

At the fame time that with you I deplore 
the unhappy neceffity of fuch an appoint- 
ment, as that with which I am honored, 
cannot but feel fentiments of the higheft 
gratitude, for this affecting inflance of dis- 
tinction and regard. 

May your warmeft wiflies be realized in 
the fuccefs of America, at this important 
and interefling period ; and be alTured 
that every exertion of my worthy col- 
leagues and myfelf, will be equally extend- 
ed to the re-ellablifhment of peace and 
harmony, between the mother country and 
thefe colonies j as to the fatal but neceflary 
operations of war, when w^e affumed the 
foldiei, we did not lay afide the citizen ; 
and we fhall moft fincerely rejoice with you 
in that happy hour, when the eftablifliment 
of American liberty, on the moft firm and 
folid foundations, fliall enable us to return 
to our private ftations, in the bofom of a 
free, peaceful and happy country. 

G. WASHINGTON. 



General George Wajhington. 69 

His conduct as a general and comman- 
der in chief is well known. He under- 
went many hardihips, dangers and diiEcul- 
ties and conducted his military operations 
with much Ikill and ability. 

It would not comport with the intended 
brevity of the prefent memoirs, for us to 
particularize all his tranfactions in the 
courfe of the revolutionary war, the impres- 
fion which they made, is yet frefli in the 
mind of every citizen. 

But it is hoped pofterity will be taught 
in what manner he transformed an undis- 
ciplined body of peafantry into a regular 
army of foldiers. Commentaries on his 
campaign would undoubtedly be highly in- 
terefting and inilrudive to future genera- 
tions. The conduct of his iirit campaign, 
in March, ]770, in compelling the Britifti 
troops to abandon Bofton, by a bloodlefs 
victory, will merit a minute narration. But 
a volume would fcarcely contain the morti- 
fication he experienced, and the hazards to 
which he was expofed in the years 3 776 
and 1777, in contending againft the prow- 
efs of Britain, with an inadequate force. 



70 Biographical Memoirs of 

Her armies were far fuperior to his in 
number, well organized and difciplined, in- 
ured to a camp life, commanded by offi- 
cers well experienced in military tacticks, 
and aided by powerful fleets, while his was 
compofed of raw and undifciplined peafants, 
*' jufl dragged from the tender fcenes of 
domeftic life — unaccuflomed to the din of 
arms — totally unacquainted with every 
kind of military Ikill," — unufed to the fub- 
ordination fo eflentially requilite in an ar- 
my, and often in want of arms, ammuni- 
tion, clothes, and even food, often expofed 
to the inclemency of the weather, in the 
moft rigorous feafon, without tents or e- 
ven a blanket, and difcouraged by the want 
of regular pay. Thefe circumftances fully 
account for the unfuccefsful iiTue of his firft 
campaigns. 

The battle of Long-Ifland was fought in 
Auguil 1776 : His army was driven from 
their poft by the Britiih ; above two thou- 
fand Americans fell on the field, and about 
half that number were taken prifoners. 
Fort Wafhington on York Ifland, furren- 
dered foon after, with two thoufand prif- 



General George Wajh'ngton. 71 

oners : defertion and ficknefs added to his 
misfortunes. His army, at the time Lord 
Howe landed on Long Ifland, amounted to 
twenty. five thoufand n en was now redu- 
ced to one eighth part of that number. 

The approach of winter happily checked 
the progrefs of the enemy. General Wafh- 
ington's perfeverance and intrepidity, im- 
proved this circumftance into important 
advantages. At Trenton, on the morning 
of the 26th December, he furprifed a body 
of the enemy's troops, who, finding them- 
felves furrounded, without further refift- 
ance agreed to lay down their arms. — 
Twenty.five officers, and nearly one thous- 
and foldiers were made prifoners ; while 
the American army had only four or five 
men wounded. 

On the third of January following, at 
Princeton, he made another fuccefsful at- 
tempt, where he took three hundred prifon- 
ers. Thefe enterprifes cheered the drooping 
fpirits of his men, and again added reputa- 
tion to the American arms. He after- 
wards retired to Morriftown, and remained 
during the winter, with an inferior force. 



72 Biographical Memoirs of 

but with fuperior Ikill, checking the enemy 
from any further encroachments in that 
part of the country. We ihall not enter 
into a minute defcription of the various bat- 
tles and fkirmifties, in which he was perfon- 
ally engaged during the cs^mpaign of 1777. 
At the battle of Brandywine, he made a 
gallant refiflance, but was at laft forced to 
quit his ground with the lofs of about 
twelve hundred men killed, wounded, or 
taken prifoners. At German town he was 
repulfed with the lofs of fix hundred killed 
or wounded, and about four hundred pris- 
oners. He afterwards retired to winter 
quarters at Valley Forge. His army was 
at this time in a moft miferable condition, 
marching without {lockings or fhoes, over 
the frozen ground, their feet were fo gafh- 
ed, that their fleps were marked with 
blood : Some hundreds of them were with- 
out blankets ; and in this condition they 
were in the middle of winter, to lit down 
in a forefl, and build huts for a fhelter. The 
deflitute fituation of the American army 
at all times, was certainly a means of pro- 
craftinating the war j oftentimes it was up- 



General George Wajhington. 73 

on the eve of diffolution, even mutinies 
had been the confequence, whilft want of 
fuccefs, prevented many of the foldiers 
from continuing longer than their fhort 
period of enliftment, and caufed frequent 
defertion. Indeed nothing but the good 
delHny and confummate prudence of the 
commander in chief, prevented want of 
fuccefs from producing want of confid- 
ence on the part of the public ; for want of 
fuccefs is apt to lead to the adoption of per- 
nicious councils, through the levity of the 
people or the ambition of their demagogues* 
In the three fucceeding years, the germ of 
difcipline unfolded ; and the refources of 
America having been called into co-opera- 
tion with the land and naval armies of 
France, produced the glorious conclufion 
of the campaign in 1781. On the nine- 
teenth of Od:ober that year, the army un- 
der the command of General Wafhington, 
forced that of the enemy, then under the 
command of Lord Cornwallis, to make a 
final furrender ; his land forces were made 
prifoners of war to Congrefs ; and the na- 
val force was given up to France, From 
G 



iAf Biographical Memoirs of 

this time the gloom began to difappeai 
from our political horizon, and the affairs 
of the union proceeded in a meliorating 
train, until peace was moft ably negociated 
by our ambaffadors in Europe, in 178S, by 
which thirteen of the American colonies 
were eftabliflied as fovereign and indepen- 
dent ftates. 

General Wafliington having never been 
in Europe, he could not poiBbly have feen 
much military fervice when the armies of 
Britain were fent to fubdue America : yet 
ftill, for a variety of reafons, he was by 
much the moft proper man on this conti- 
nent, and probably any where elfe, to be 
placed at the head of an American Army. 
The very high eftimation he ftood in for 
integrity and honor, his engaging in the 
caufe of his country from fentiment and a 
convi<^ion of her wrongs, his moderation 
in politics, his extenfive property, and his 
approved abilities as a commander, were 
motives which neceffarily obliged the choice 
of America to fall upon him. 

That nature had given him extraordina- 
ry military talents, wiU hardly be con- 



General George Wajhington. 15 

troverted by his moft bitter enemies; 
and having been early actuated with a 
warm paffi;m to ferve his country in the 
military line, he has greatly improved 
them by unwearied induftry, and a clofe 
application to the bed writers upon tadics, 
and by a more than common method and 
exacflnefs ; and, in reality, when it comes 
to be confidered, that at firit he only head- 
ed a body of men entirely unacquainted 
with military difcipline or operations, fome- 
what ungovernable in temper, and who at 
beft could only be fliled an alert and good 
militia, adingunder very fliort enliftments, 
unclothed, unaccoutred, and at all times 
very ill lupplied with ammunition and ar- 
tillery ; and that with fuch an army he 
withftood the ravages and progrefs of near- 
ly forty thoufand veteran troops, plentiful- 
ly provided with every neceflkry article, 
commanded by the braveft officers of Eu- 
rope 5 and fupported by a very powerful 
navy, which effeftualiy prevented all move- 
ments by water ; when, we fay, all this 
comes to be impartially confidered, we 
think we may venture to pronounce, that 



^6 Biographical Memoirs of 

General Wafhington will be regarded by 
mankind as one of the greateft military or- 
naments of the prefent age, and his name 
will command the veneration of the lateft 
pofterity. 

No perfon but thofe who had an oppor- 
tunity of viewing the continental army, 
can form any adequate idea of its imperfed 
ftate when General Waihington firft affum- 
ed the command, nor was it without the 
moft unwearied application and perfever- 
ance, which few men but him, could have 
undergone, that he was able to eftablifh 
that difcipline which ultimately aided his 
fuccefs. From the period he firft affumed 
the command, until the final diflblution of 
the army, his care and anxiety for them 
continued. The army he confidered his 
family ; and after the embarraffments of 
the day, after the toils and fatigues of a 
battle, we find him ftealing a portion of 
time allotted for reft, devifing means the 
moft falutary, for their amelioration, at all 
times characterized with that economy and 
frugality which the national refources re=^ 
«juired. 



General George Wajhington. 7Y 

The following extra<Els from his official 
letters to Congrefs on this fubjed are wor- 
thy of perufal : they do ample juftice to 
liis feehngs, and muft make a laiting im- 
preffion in the hearts of his fellow foldiers, 
viz. 

Extract of a Letter from General Washington, to the 
honorable Congress, dated Cambridge, September 
21,1775. 

" It gives me great pain to be obliged to 
folicit the attention of the honorable Con- 
grefs to the ftate of this army, in terms 
which imply the flighteft apprehenfion of 
being negledted. But my fituation is inex- 
preffibly diftreffing, to fee the winter faft 
approaching upon a naked army ; the time 
of their fervice wdthin a few weeks of ex- 
piring \ and no provifion yet made for 
fuch important events. Added to thefe 
the military cheft is totally exhaufted, the 
pay-mafter has not a fingle dollar in hand : 
the commiffary-general afl'ures me he has 
drained his credit, for the fubfiftence of the 
army, to the utmoft. The quarter-mafter- 
general is precifely in the fame fituation 5 

and the greateft part of tbe troops are in a 
G 2 



7S Biographical Memoirs of 

ftate not far from mutiny, upon the deduc- 
tion from their ftated allowance. I know 
not to whom I am to impute this failure ; 
but I am of opinion, if the evil is not imme- 
diately remedied, and move punctually ob- 
ferved in future, the army muft abfolutely 
break up. I hoped I had fo fully expres- 
sed myfelf on this fubjecl, (both by letter, 
and to thofe members of the Congrefs, who 
honored the camp with a vifit) that no dis- 
appointments could poffibly happen. I 
therefore hourly expedted advice from the 
pay- matter that he had received a frefh fup- 
ply, in addition to the hundred and feventy 
two thoufand dollars delivered him in Au- 
guft : and thought myfelf warranted to as- 
sure the public creditors that in a few days 
they fliould be fatisfied. But the delay has 
brought matters to fuch a crifis, as admits 
of no further uncertain expeftation. I 
have therefore fent off this exprefs, with 
orders to make all poflible dispatch. It is 
niy moft earned requeft that he may be re- 
turned with all poffible expedition, unlefs 
the honorable Congrefs have already for- 



General George Wajhingion. 79 

warded what is fo indifpenfibly neceffa- 
ry.*' I have the honor to be, &c. 

Camp. G. WASHINGTON. 



LETTER FROM GENERAL WASHINGTON', 
TO THE I'RfiSIDENT OF Ct^NGRESS. 

« NeW'7ork^ July 25, 1776. 

" SIR, 

" DISAGREEABLE as it is to me, and 
unpleaiing as it may be to Congrefs, to mul- 
tiply officers, I find myfelf under the una- 
voidable neceflity of alking an increafe of 
my aids-de-camp. The augmentation of 
my command ; the increafe of my corref- 
pondence : the orders to give ; the inftruc- 
tions to draw ; cut out more bufinefs than I 
am able to execute in time with propriety. 
The bufinefs of fo many different depart- 
ments centering with me, and by me to be 
handed on to Congrefs for their informa- 
tion ; added to the intercourfe I am of3li- 
ged to keep up with the adjacent States ; 
and incidental occurrences ; all of which 
require confidential and not hack writers 
to execute , renders it impoflible, in the 



80 Biographical Memoirs of 

prefent ftate of things, for my family to 
difcharge the feveral duties expeded of me 
with that precilion and difpatch that I could 
wifh. What will it be then, when we 
come into a more active fcene, and I am 
called from twenty different places perhaps 
at the fame inftant ? 

*' Congrefs will do me the juftice to be- 
lieve (I hope) that it is not my inclination or 
wifh to run the continent to any unneceffa- 
ry expenfe ; and thofe who better know 
me will not fufped that Ihew and parade 
can have any influence on my mind in this 
inllance. A convi(?lion of the neceflity of 
it, for the regular difcharge of the truft re- 
pofed in me, is the governing motive for 
the application : and, as fuch, i$ fubmitted 
to Congrefs by. 
Sir, 

Your moft obedient, &c. 
G. WASHINGTON. 

Extract of a Letter /torn General Washington^ to the 
Prrsident of Congress. 

NewTork, September 2, 1776- 
Sir 
" AS my intelligence of late has been 



General George Wajhington, 81 

rather unfavorable, and would be received 
with anxiety and concern ; peculiarly hap- 
py Ihouid I efteem myfelf, were it in n^y 
power at this time, to tranfmit fuch infor- 
mation to Congrefs as would be more plea- 
fing and agreeable to their wifhes ; but, un- 
fortunately for me ; unfortunately for 
them ; it is not. 

" Our fituarion is truly diflreffing. The 
check our detachment fuftained on the 
twenty-feventh ultimo, has difpirited too 
great a proportion of our troops, and filled 
their minds with apprehenfion and defpair. 
the militia, inftead of calling forth their ut- 
moft efforts to brave and manly oppofition 
in order to repair our loiTes, are difmayed, 
untraceable, and impatient to leturn. Great 
numbers of them have gone oft; in fome 
inflances almofl by whole regiments, by 
half ones and by companies at a time. This 
circumilance, of itfelf, independent of oth- 
ers, when fronted by a well-appointed ene- 
my fuperior in number to our whole col- 
lected force, would be fufficiently difagree- 
able : but, when their example has infected 
another part of the army, when their want 



^i Biographical Memoirs of 

of difcipline, and refufal of almoft every 
kind of reftraint and government, have pro- 
duced a like condud: but too common to 
the whole, and an entire difregard of the 
order and fubordination neceifary to the 
well doing of an army, and which had been 
inculcated before, as well as the nature of 
our military eflablifhment would admit of; 
our condition is ftill more alarming : and 
with the deepeft concern I am obliged to 
confefs my want of confidence in the gene- 
rality of the troops. 

"Ail thefe circumftances fully confirm 
the opinion I ever entertained, and which I 
more than once in my letters took the liber- 
ty of mentioning to Congrefs, that no de- 
pendence could be put in a militia, or other 
troops than thofe eriliiled and embodied for 
a longer period than our regulations hereto- 
fore have prefcribed. I am perfuaded, and 
as fully convinced as 1 am of any one fad 
that has happened, that our liberties muft 
of neceflity be greatly hazarded, if not en- 
tirely lofl, if their defence is left to any but 
a permanent (landing army ; I mean, one to 
exill during the war. Nor would the ex- 



General George Wajhingion. 83 

penfe, incident to the fupport of fuch a body 
of troops as would be competent to almoft 
every exigency, far exceed that which is 
daily incurred by calling in fuccour, and 
new enliftments, which when efFeded, are 
not attended with any good confequences. 
Men who have been free and fubjedl to no 
control, cannot be reduced to order in an 
inftant : and the privileges and exemptions 
they claim and will have, influence the con- 
duct of others ; and the aid derived from 
them is nearly counterbalanced by the dif- 
order, irregularity and confufion they occa- 
fion. 

" I cannot find that the bounty of ten 
dollars is likely to produce the defired ef- 
fed. When men can get double that fum 
to engage for a month or two in the mili- 
tia, and that militia frequently called out, it 
is hardly to be expeded. The addition of 
land might have a confiderable influence on 
a permanent enliftment.'* 



84 Biographical Memoirs of 

LETTER FROM GENERAL WASHIKGTOJ^ 

To the Prefident of Congrefs, 

Col. Morris's, on the Heights of Haerlem, 

Sept. 24, 1776. 

Sir, 

" FROM the hours allotted to fleep, I will 

borrow a few moments to convey my tho'ts 
on fundry important matters to Congrefs. 
I fhall offer them with the fmcerity. which 
ought to characlerife a man of candor, and 
with the freedom which may be ufed in 
giving ufeful information, without incur- 
ring the imputation of prefumption. 

" We are now, as it were, on the eve of 
another diffolution of our army. The re- 
membrance of the difficulties which happen- 
ed upon the occafion laft year, the confe- 
quences which might have followed the 
change if proper advantages had been taken 
by the enemy, added to a knowledge of the 
prefent temper and fituation of our troops, 
refledt a gloomy profpedt upon the appear- 
ances of things now, and fatisfy me beyond 
the poflibilivy of doubt, that, unlefs fome 
fpeedy and effedual meafurs are adopted by 
Congrefs, our caufe will be loft* 



I 



General George Wajhmgton. 85 

<* It ism vain to expeft that any or more 
than a trifling part of this army will again 
engage in the fervice on the encouragement 
offered by Congrefs, when men find that 
their townfmen and companions are receiv- 
ing twenty, thirty and more dollars, for a 
few months fervice (which is truly the cafe,) 
it cannot be expeded without ufing compul- 
fiion ; and to force them into the fervice 
would anfwer no valuable purpofe. When 
men are irritated, and the paffions inflamed, 
they fly hafl;ily and cheerfully to arms ; but 
after the firft emotions are over * * *, a fol- 
dier, reafoned with upon the goodnefs of 
the caufe he is engaged in, and the inefti- 
mable rights he is contending for, hears you 
with patience, and acknowledges the truth 
of your obfervations, but adds, that it is of 
no more importance to him than others. 
The officer makes you the fame reply, with 
this further remark, that his pay will not 
fupport him, and he cannot ruin himfelf 
and family to ferve his country, when eve- 
ry member of the community is equally in- 
terefted and benefitted by his labors. ♦ * * 
H 



$$ Biographical Metnoirs of 

" It becomes evidently clear then, that as 
this conteft is not likely to be the work of a 
day,— as the war muft be carried on fyftem- 
atically, — and to do it you muft have good 
officers, — there are in my judgment, no oth- 
cr poffible means to obtain them but by ef- 
tabiifhing your army upon a permanent 
footing, and giving your officers good pay. 
This will induce gentlemen and men of 
charafter to engage ; and, till the bulk of 
your officers are compofed of fuch perfons 
as are aduated by principles of honor and a 
fpirit of enterprife, you have little to exped 
from them. They ought to have fuch al- 
lowances as will enable them to live like and 
fupport the characters of gentlemen. * * * 
Befides, fomething is due to the man who 
puts his life in (jour) hands, hazards his 
health, and forgets the fweets of domeftic 
enjoyment. Why a captain in the conti- 
Bental fervice fhould receive no more than 
five fliillings currency per day for perform- 
ing the fame duties that an officer of the 
fame rank in the Britifti fervice receives ten 
fhillings fterling for, I never could conceive, 
efpecially when the latter is provided with 



General George Wcrfhlngton, 87 

every neceffary he requires upon the bed 
terms, and the former can fcarce procure 
them at any rate. There is nothing that 
gives a man confequence and renders him 
fit for command, like a fupport that ren- 
ders him independent of every body but the 
flate he ferves. 

"With refpe6l to the men, nothing but 
a good bounty can obtain them upon a per- 
manent eftablifhment ; and for no fhorter 
time than the continuance of the war, ought 
they to be engaged ; as fa(fts inconteftibly 
prove that the difficulty and coll of enlift- 
ments increafe with time. When the army 
was firft raifed at Cambridge, I am perfua- 
ded that the men might have been got with- 
out a bounty, for the war. After this they 
began to fee the conteft was not likely to 
end fo fpeedily as was imagined, and to feel 
their confequence by remarking, that, to get 
in the militia in the courfe of the laft year, 
many towns were induced to give them a 
bounty. 

" Forefeeing the evils refulting from this, 
and the deftrudtive confequences which un- 
avoidably would follow flioit enliftments, I 



68 Biographical Me?noirs of 

took the liberty in a long letter (date not 
now recolledled, as my letter book is not 
here) to recommend the enliftments for and 
during the war, afligning fuch reafons for 
it as experience has fince convinced me 
were well founded. At that time, twenty 
dollars would, I am perfuaded, have enga- 
ged the men for this term. But it will not 
do to look back : and if the prefent oppor- 
tunity is flipped, I am perfuaded that twelve 
months more will increafe our difficulties 
four-fold. I ftiall therefore take the free- 
dom of giving it as my opinion, that a good 
bounty be immediately offered, aided by 
the proffer of at leaft an hundred and fifty 
acres of land, and a fuit of clothes and blank* 
et to each non-commiffioned officer and fol- 
dier ; as I have good authority for faying 
that however high the men's pay may ap- 
pear, it is barely fufficient, in the prefent 
fcarcity and dearnefs of all kinds of goods, 
to keep them in clothes, much lefs afford 
fupport to their families. 

« If this enc ouragement then is given to 
the men, and fuch pay allowed the officers 
as will induce gentlemen of charader and 



General George Wajhingion. 89 

liberal fentiments to engage, and proper 

care and precaution ufed in the nomination 

(having more regard to the chara<fter of 

perfons than the number of men they can 

enlift,) we fhould in a little time have an 

army able to cope with any that can be op- 

pofed to it, as there are excellent materials 

to form one out of. But while the only 

merit an officer poffelTes in his ability to raife 

men, while thofe men confider and treat 

him as an equal, and (in the character of an 

officer) regard him no more than a broom* 

flick, being mixed together as one common 

herd, no order nor difcipline can prevail ; 

nor will the officer meet with that refpedl 

which is effentialiy neceffary to due fubordi- 

nation. 

" To place any dependence upon militia, 

is alTuredly refting upon a broken ftaflP— 

men juft dragged from the tender fcenes pf 

domeflic life — unaccuflomed to the din of 

arms — totally unacquainted with every kind 

of military Ikill ; which being followed by 

a want of confidence in themfelves, when 

oppofed to troops regularly trained, difci- 

plined, and appointed, fuperior in knowl* 
H 2 



9D Biographical Memoirs of 

edge, and fuperior in arms, makes them tim- 
id and ready to fly from their own fhad- 
ows. Befides, the fudden change in their 
manner of living (particularly in the lodg- 
ing) brings on ficknefs in many, impatience 
in all, and fuch an unconquerable delire of 
returning to their refpedive homes, that it 
not only produces lliameful and Icandalous 
defertions among themfelves, but infufes 
the like fpirit into others. 

" Again ; men accuflomed to unbounded 
freedom and no control, cannot brook the 
reftraint which is indifpenfibly neceflary to 
the good order and government of an ar- 
my ; without which, licentioufnefs and ev* 
ery kind of diforder triumphantly reign. 
To bring men to a proper degree of fubor- 
dination is not the work of a day, a month, 
or even a year ; and unhappily for us and 
the caufe we are engaged in, the little difci- 
pline I have been laboring to eftabiifh in the 
army under my immediate command, is in 
a manner done away, by having fuch a mix- 
ture of troops as have been called together 
within thefe few monthsp 



General George Wajh'mgton. 91 

*' Relaxed and unfit as our rules and reg- 
ulations of war are for the government of 
an army5the nitlitia(thofe properly fo calPd ; 
for of tliefe we have two forts, the fix- months 
men, and thofe fent in as a temporary aid) 
do not think themfelves fubjecl to them, 
and therefore take liberties which a foldier 
is puniflied for. This creates jealoufy ; jeal- 
oufy begets diffatisfadions : and thefe by 
degrees ripen into mutiny, keeping the 
whole army in a confufed and difordered 
flate ; rendering the time of thofe who wifli 
to fee regularity and good order prevail, 
more unhappy than words can defcribe. Be- 
fides this, fuch repeated changes take place, 
that all arrangement is fet at nought, and 
the conftant fluctuation of things deranges 
every plan as fafl: as adopted. 

" Thefe, fir, Congrefs may be affured, are 
but a fmall part ot the inconveniences which 
might be enun erated, and attributed toani- 
litia : but there is one that merits particu- 
lar attenti(.'n, and that is the expenfe. Cer- 
tain I am, that it would be cheaper to keep 
fifty or an hundred thoufand in conftant 
pay, than to depend upon half the numberj 



9,2 Biographical Memoirs of ■ 

and fupply the other half occalionally by 
militia. The time the latter are in pay be- 
fore and after they are in camp, affembling 
and marching ; the wade of ammunition, 
the confumption of ftores, which, in fpite 
of every refolution of Congrefs, they muft 
be furniftied with, or fent home ; added to 
other incidental expences confequent upon 
their coming and conducl in camp, furpaf- 
fes all idea, and deftroys every kind of reg- 
ularity and economy which you could eftab- 
iilh among fixed and fettled troops, and 
will, in my opinion, prove (if the fcheme is 
adhered to) the ruin of our caufe. 

*'• The jealoufies of a ftanding army, and 
the evils to be apprehended from one, are 
remote, and, in my judgment, fituated and 
circumftanced as we are, not at all to be 
dreaded : but the confequence of wanting 
one, according to my ideas formed from the 
prefent view of things, is certain and inevit- 
able ruin. For, if I was called upon to de- 
clare upon oathj whether the militia have 
been moft ferviceable or hurtful upon the 
whole, I Ihould fubfcribe to the latter. I 
do not mean by this, however, to arraign 



General George Wajhtngion* 9S 

the conducl of Congrefs : in fo doing I 
fliould equally condemn my own meafures, 
if I did not my judgment : but experience, 
which is the beft criterion to work by, fo 
fully, clearly and deciiively reprobates the 
practice of trufting to militia, that no m.an 
who regards order, regularity and econo- 
my, or who has any regard to his own hon- 
or, character, or peace of mind, will rifk 
them upon this ilTue, * * * 

'' An army formed of good officers, 
moves like clock-work : but there is no fit- 
uation on earth lefs enviable nor more dif- 
treffing than that perfon's who is at the 
head of troops who are regardlefs of order 
or difcipline, and who are unprovided with 
almoft every neceflary. In a word, the dif- 
ficulties which have forever furrounded me 
fince I have been in the i'ervice, and kept 
my mind conftantly upon the flretcli— the 
wounds which my feelings (as an officer) 
have received a thoufand things which have 
happened contrary to my expedation and 
wifhes, * * * — added to a confcioufnefs of 
my inability to govern an army compofed 
of fuch difcordant parts, and under fuch a 



94 Biographical Memoirs of 

variety of intricate and perplexing circum- 

ftances — induce not only a belief, but a thor- 

ough convidion in my mind, that it will be 

impoilible (unlefs there is a thorough change 

in our military fyftem.) for ine to condud 

matters in fuch a manner as to give fatisfac- 

tion to the public, which is all the recom- 

pence I aim at, or ever wifhed for. 

" Before I conclude, I muft apologife for 

the liberties taken in this letter, and for the 

blots and fcratchings therein, not having 

time to give it more correctly. With truth 

I can add, that, with every fentiment of re- 

fped and efteem, I am yours and the Con- 

grefs' 

Mofl obedient, &c. 

G. W." 

LETTER FROM GEJ^'ERAL WJSHIjVGTOjY 
To the Commiiiee of Congrefsy oJi a vifit to the 
Camp, 
Camp at the Clove, July 19, 1777. 

G£NTLliM£N, 

" The little notice I had of your coming 
to the army, and the fhortnefs of your ftay 
in camp, will more than probably occafion 



General George Wajhington. 95 

the omiffion of many matters, which of right 
ought to be laid before you ; and the inter- 
ruption which my thoughts conftantly meet 
by a variety of occurrences, muft apologize 
for the crude and indigefted manner in 
which they are offered. 

" The completion of the continental re- 
giments is a matter of fuch infinite impor- 
tance, that I think no means fliould be left 
uneffayed to accomplifli it. Draughting 
where the powers of government are ade- 
quate, would be the fpeediefl and moft ef- 
fedual, but if it fhould be thought unadvif- 
able to attempt this mode — next to it I 
would recommend that the bufinefs of re- 
cruiting fhould be taken entirely out of the 
hands of the officers of the army, and that 
-each ftate fliould appoint fome perfon of 
known activity (one for inftance, who has 
been a good under {her iff) in each county 
or townlhip, not only to recruit, but to ap- 
prehend deferters ; thefe perfons to be lib- 
erally rewarded for each recruit, and defer- 
ter whom they fliall deliver, at ftated peri- 
ods and places, to officers appointed to re- 
ceive, and difcipline, and march them to the 



Q6 Biographical Memoirs of 

* 

army : none of thefe recruiters to have the 
fmalleft power to ad: out of their own dif- 
tri6ts, but to be abfolutely fixed to them. 

*' A mode of this kind would, in my hum- 
ble opinion, be lefs burthenfome to the pub- 
lie than the prefent ; prevent the idle hab- 
its which recruiting officers contrad, not 
only injurious to themfelves,but to others; 
the moft efFedual means which can be devif- 
ed for the recovery of defelters ; the furefl 
way of keeping your regiments of equal 
ilrength, and of making the duty more e- 
qual in the detail of it : in a word, many 
valuable advantages would refult from it, 
whilll I can fuggeft but one reafon againfl 
it ; and that, (fully fatisfied I am) when 
weighed in the fcale of intereft, will not op- 
erate ; I mean, the keeping fo many offi- 
cers in the camp, who might be fpared from 
the duties of the field till the regiments are 
flronger than at prefent. The fixteen addi- 
tional regiments labor under fuch difadvan- 
tages in fome flates, as to render the inter- 
polition of Congrefs, in fome fliape or oth- 
er, indifpenfably necelTary. 



General George Wqfhingfon. 97 

/ 
" With refpeft to food, confidering we 

are in fuch an extenfive and abundant coun- 
try, no army was ever worfe fupplied than 
ours, with many effential articles of it. Our 
foldiers, the greateft part of laft campaign 
and the whole of this, have fcarcely tafted 
any kind of vegetables, had but little fait ; 
and vinegar which would have been a toler- 
able fubflitute for vegetables, they have 
been in a great meafure ftrangers to. Nei- 
ther have they been provided with proper 
drink : beer or cider feldom comes within 
the verge of the camp, and rum in much 
too fmall quantities. Thus, to devouring 
large quantities of animal food, untemper- 
ed by vegetables or vinegar, or by any kind 
of drink but water, and eating indifferent 
bread, (but for this, a remedy is provided) 
are to be afcribed the many putrid difeafes 
incident to the army, and the lamentable 
mortality that attended us laft campaign. 
If thefe evils can be remedied, the expence 
and trouble ought not to be obftacles.— 
Though fome kinds of vegetables are not 
to be had, others are, which, together with 
fourcrout and vinegar, might eafily be had 



98 Biographical Memoirs of 

it proper perfons acquainted with the bufi- 
nefs were employed therein. 

" Soap is another article in great demand^ 
the continental allowance is too fmall ; and, 
dear as every neceffary of life is now got, a 
foldier's pay will not enable him to pur- 
chafe ; by which means his confequent dir- 
tinefs adds not a little to the difeafes of the 
army. 

" I have no reafon to accufe the clothier- 
general of inattention to his department ; 
and therefore, as his fupplies are incompe- 
tent to the wants of the army, I am to fup- 
pofe his refources are unequal. Ought not 
each ftate then to be called upon to draw 
fuch fupplies from the country manufado- 
ries, as can be afforded ? particularly of 
does, (lockings, Ihirts and blankets, articles 
indispenfably neceffary, and of w^hich fcarce 
too many can be provided : in the mean 
while every provilion to be making, for 
clothing the troops uniformly and warm in 
the winter. It is a maxim that needs no 
illucidation, that nothing can be of more 
importance in an army than the clothing 
and feeding it well. On thefe the healthy 



General George Wajhington. 99 

comfort and fpirits of the foldiers eflential- 
ly depend ; and it is a melancholy fad, that 
the American army are miferably defective 
in both thefe refpecls- The diftrefs moft 
of them are in for want of clothing is pain- 
ful to humanity, difpiriting to themfelves, 
and difcouraging to every officer. It makes 
every pretenfion to the prefervation of 
cleanlinefs impoffible, expofes them to a va- 
riety of diforders, and abates or deftroys 
that military pride without which nothing 
can be expeded from any army. 

'' The confequence of giving rank indis- 
criminately is much to be dreaded : great 
diffatisfadion has already arifen on account 
of beftowing this on officers in the civil de- 
partments of the army, on the inferior ftafF, 
waggon-mafters, &c. who, by cuftom, pro- 
priety, and every other motive, are exclu- 
ded from it in all well regulated armies. — 
The too great liberality praclifed in this 
refped wilt deflroy the pride of rank 
where it ought to exift, and will not only 
render it cheap, but contemptible. It is the 
policy of all armies to make it valued and 
refpected, as a ilimulus to emulation, and 

» L.cf G. . 



100 Biographical Memoirs of 

an incitement to bold and gallant underta- 
kings ; it mull be very unadvifeably there- 
fore, in our infant ftate of war, to adopt 
novel cuftonis to bring it into difcredit ; 
which muft and will be the confequence of 
making it too common, befides the difguft 
it creates in others. 

*' An auditor of accounts, to be con- 
ftantly with the army, is abfolutely requi- 
fite. It is abfolutely impoffible for me, 
crowded as I am with other bulinefs, to ex- 
amine & adjuft the numerous complex ac- 
counts of the army with that correctnefs 
the public have a right to expect, before 
warrants pafs for payment ; and, without 
doing it, great impofitions may follow. 
The proviiions for makhig regimental pay- 
mafters regulate all regimental accounts is 
altogether incompetent to the end propofed 
from it : for thefe men being appointed 
generally agreeable to the recommendation 
of the field officers of the regiments they 
belong to •, affociating conftantly with the 
officers of their corps, and in a great meaf- 
ure under their control ; cannot be confider- 
ed as fufficiently uninfluenced \ nor are au- 



General George Wajhington. 101 

ditors at a diftance from the army of much 
ufe, as it would require a delay not admiffi- 
ble, to fend accounts to them to audit be- 
fore the)^ were puffed and paid in confe- 
quence of warrants from the commander in 
chief of the army. 

*' A good geographer, to furvey the roads 
and take fketches of the country where the 
army is to act, would be extremely ufeful, 
and might be attended with exceeding val- 
uable confequences. He might with propri- 
ety have the chief dire(^ion of the guides, 
and muft have a head to procure, govern, 
and pay them. If fuch a perfon fliould be 
approved of, I would beg leave to recom- 
mend Mr. Robert Erfkine, who is thorough- 
ly (killed in this bufinefs, has already allift. 
ed us in making maps of the country, and 
has (as I am informed) uniformly fupport- 
ed the charader of a fall friend to America. 

" A fmall travelling prefs, to follow head- 
quarters, would be produdive of many em- 
inent advantages. It would enable us to 
give fpeedy and exad information of any 
military tranfadVions that take place, with 

proper comments upon themp and thereby 
I 2 



102 Biographical Memoirs of 

fruftrate the pernicious tendency of falfe* 
hood and mifreprefentation, which, in my 
opinion, of whatever complexion they may 
be, are, in the main, detrimental to our 
caufe. If the people had a channel of intel- 
ligence, that, from its ufual authenticity, 
they could look up to with confidence, 
they might often be preferved from that 
defpondency which they are apt to fall into, 
from the exaggerated pictures our enemies 
and their emilTaries among us commonly 
draw of any misfortunes we meet with — 
and from that diffidence of truths favorable 
to us, which they muft naturaUy feel from 
the frequent deception they are expofed to, 
by the extravagant colorings our friends of- 
ten give to our fucceffes. It would alfo be 
very ufeful to difpatch bufinefs in camp, be- 
ing the mofl: expeditious means of taking 
copies of orders or other matters that re- 
quire to be difperfed, and would fave a good 
deal in returns and other papers we are of- 
ten obliged to get printed in Philadelphia^ 
An ingenious man to accompany this prefs, 
and be employed wholly in writing for it, 
might render it jfingularly beneficial. 



General George Wajhington. 103 

" I am exceedingly embarraffed how to 
difpofe of the French oflicers in general, but 
more efpechliy the artillery officers, who 
are come out under the fanclion of a com- 
pact. I can think of no other way than 
that of forming a feparate corps of them, 
and draughting men from the whole line 
to compofe that corps : but even this will 
be attended with many difagreeable efFeds : 
among others, this is not the leaft, that of- 
ficers will think themfelves much injured 
to have the men they have had the trouble 
of railing, taken from them and given to 
others. There is fomething in this which 
is difcouraging, and breaks the fpirit of a 
good officer, who prides himfelf in having 
a full and complete corps. 

" A doubt has arifen, whether a perfon 
who belongs to any of the United States of 
America, and who owed allegiance to any of 
the faid ftates, — that went to the enemy 
fome time paft^ and fmce that time has been 
lurking about any of the fortifications, or 
about any of the encampments of the ar- 
mies of the United States, plundering and 
driving off cattle to the enemy, recruiting 



104 Biographical Memoirs of 

for them, or committing any other atro- 
cious crime, or who is appointed an officer 
in the enemy's army — can be tried by a 
general court-martial, under the refolution 
of Congrefs of the twenty-firft of Auguft, 
1776, and punifhed as a fpy. I have the 
honor to be, &c. 

G. W." 

CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN GEN. WASHING- 
TON AND GHNERAL GAGE, RESPECTING 
THE BAD TREATMENT OF PRISONERS. 

Letter from bis Excellency General Wajhington^ 

to General Gage. 
H. Quarters, Cambridge, Aug. 11, 1775. 
Sir, 

" I underfland that the officers engaged 
in the caufe of liberty and their country, 
who, by the fortune of war, have fallen in- 
to your hands, have been thrown indifcrim- 
inately into a common gaol, appropriated 
for felons — that no confideration has been 
made for thofe of the moft refpedable rank, 
when languiihing with wounds and ficknefs 
—that fome of them have been amputated 
in this unworthy fituation. 



General George Wajhingion. 105 

" Let your opinion, fir, of the principle 
which actuates them, be what it nriay, they 
fuppofe they acl from the nobleft of all prin- 
ciples, a love of freedom and their country. 
But political opinions, I conceive, are for- 
eign to this point. The obligations arifmg 
from the right of humanity and claims of 
rank, are univerfally binding and extenfive, 
except in cafe of retaliation. ThefeJ fhould 
have hoped, would have dictated a more 
tender treatment of tliofe individuals, whom 
chance or war had put in your power* Nor 
can I forbear fuggefting its fatal tendency 
to widen that unhappy breach, which you, 
and thofe minifters under whom you act, 
have repeatedly declared you wifh to fee 
forever clofed. 

" My duty now makes it neceflary to ap- 
prife you, that for the future, I fhall regu- 
late my condud towards thofe gentlemen of 
your army, who are, or may be in our pof- 
feflion, exactly by the rule you may obferve 
towards thofe of ours who may be in yo\ir 
cuftody. 

" If feverity and hardlhip mark the line 
of your condud: (painful as it may be to me) 



106 Biographical Memoirs of 

your prifoners will feel its efTe^ls ; but if 
kindnefs and humanity are fhewn to ours, I 
fliall, with pleafure, confider thofe in our 
hands, only as unfortunate, and they fhall 
receive fron:i me that treatment to which 
the unfortunate are ever entitled. 

" I beg to be favored with an anfwer as 
foon as poffible, and am, fir. 

Your very humble fervant, 
G. WASHINGTON." 

ANSWER. 

BosTvjN, Aug. 13, 1775. 
" Sir, 

" TO the glory of civilized nations, hu- 
manity and war have been compatible ; and 
compaffion to be fubdued is become almoft 
a general fyftem. 

" Britons, ever pre-eminent in mercy, 
have out-gone common examples, and over- 
looked the criminal in the captive. Upon 
thcfe principles your prifoners, whofe lives, 
by the laws of the land, are deftined to tbe 
cord, have hitherto been treated with care 
and kindnefs, and more comfortably lodg- 
ed, than the king's troops, in the hofpitals ; 



General George Wajhington. 107' 

indifcriminately, it is true, for I acknowl- 
edge no rank that is not derived from the 
king. 

" My intelligence from your army would 
juftify fevere recrimination. I underfland 
there are fome of the king's faithful fub- 
je£l:s, taken fome time fince by the rebels, 
laboring like Negro Haves, to gain their dai- 
ly fubfiftence, or reduced to the wretched 
alternative, to perifli by famine, or take up 
arms againft their king and country. Thofe, 
who have made the treatment of the prifon- 
ers in my hands, or of your other friends in 
Bofton, a pretence for fuch meafures, found 
barbarity upon falfehood. 

" I would willingly hope, fir, that the 
fentiments of liberality which I have always 
believed you to poffefs, will be exerted to 
correcl their mifdoings. Be temperate in 
political difquifitions ; give free operation 
to truth, and punifli thofe who deceive and 
mifreprefent ^ and not only the effeds, but 
the caufes of this unhappy confli£t willfoon 
be removed. 

" Should thofe, under whofe ufurped au- 
thority you act, control fuch a difpofition, 



308 Biographical Memoirs of 

and dare to call feverity retaliation, to God, 
who knows all hearts, be the appeal for the 
dreadful confequences. I truft, that Britiih 
foldiers, afferting the rights of the ftate, the 
laws of the land, the being of the conftitu- 
tion, will meet all events with becoming 
fortitude. They will court victory with 
the fpirit their caufe infpires, and from the 
fame motive, will find the patience of mar- 
tyrs under misfortune. 

*' Till I read your infinuations in regard 
to minifters, I conceived that I a£led under 
the king ; whofe wiflies, it is true, as well 
as thofe of his minifters, and of every hon- 
eft man, have been to fee this unhappy 
breach forever clofed: but unfortunately 
for both countries, thofe who have long 
fince projeded the prefent crlfis, and influ- 
ence the councils of America, have views 
very diftant from accommodation. 
1 am, fir. 

Your obedient, humble ferv't. 
THOMx^S GAGE. 
George Washington, Esq. 



General George Wajhington, 109 

REPLY. 

H. Quarters, Cambridge, Aug. 19, 1775. 
" Sir, 

" I addreffed you on the 1 1 th inftant 
in terms which gave the faireft fcope for the 
exercife of that humanity and politenefs, 
which were fuppofed to form a part of your 
character. I remonftrated with you on the 
unworthy treatment fliewn to the officers 
and citizens of America, whom the fortune 
of war, chance, or a miftaken confidence, 
had thrown into your hands. 

" Whether Britifli or American mercy, 
fortitude and patience, are moft pre-emi- 
nent — whether our virtuous citizens, whom 
the hand of tyranny has forced into arms, 
to defend their wives, their children and 
their property, or the mercenary inftru- 
ments of lawlefs domination, avarice and 
revenge, beftdeferve the appellation ofreb- 
els, and the punifliment of that cord, which 
your afFeded clemency has forborn to inflid 
— whether the authority under which I ad, 
is ufurped, or founded on the genuine prin- 
ciples of liberty, were altogether foreign to 
K 



110 Biographical Memoirs of 

the fubje^b. I purpofely avoided all politic- 
al difquifition ; nor Ihall I now avail my- 
felf of thofe advantages, which the facred 
caufe of my country, of liberty and human 
nature, give me over you ; much iefs fhall 
I {loop to retort any invedive. But the in- 
telligence, you fay you have received from 
our army, requires a reply. I have taken 
time, fir, to make a ftridt enquiry, and find 
that it has not the leaft foundation in truth. 
Not only your officers and foldiers have 
been treated with a tendernefs due to fel- 
low-citizens and brethren, but even thofe 
execrable parricides, whofe councils and aid 
, have deluged their country in blood, have 
been protected from the fury of a juftly en- 
raged people- Far from compelling or per- 
mitting their afliftance, I am embarrafled 
with the number who crowd to our camp, 
animated with the pureft principles of vir- 
tue and love of their country. You advife 
me to give free operation to truth ; to pun - 
ifh mifreprefentation and falfehood. If ex- 
perience (lamps value upon counfel, yours 
mud have a weight which few can claim. 
You beft can tell how far the convulfion. 



General George Wajhingion* Jli 

which h^s brought fuch ruin on both coun* 
tries, and ihaken the mighty empire of Brit- 
ain to its foundation, may be traced to thefe 
malignant caufes. 

" You affed, fir, to defpife all rank not 
derived from the fame fource with your 
own. I cannot conceive one more honora* 
ble, than that which flows from the uncor- 
rupted choice of a brave and free people, 
the pureft fource and original fountain of 
all power. — Far from making it a plea for 
cruelty, a mind of true magnanimity and 
enlarged ideas, would comprehend and re- 
fpecl it. 

" What may have been the minifterial 
views w^hich have precipitated the prefent 
crifis, Lexington, Concord, and Charlefton, 
can beft declare. May that God to whom 
you then appealed, judge between America 
and you. Under his providence, thofe who 
influence the councils of America, and all 
the other inhabitants of the united colonies, 
at the hazard of their lives, are determined 
to hand down to poilerity, thofe juft and 
invaluable privileges which they received 
from their anceflors. 



112 Biographical Memoirs of 

" I (hall now, fir, clofe my correfpondence 
with you, perhaps for ever. If your offi- 
cers, our prifoners, receive a treatment from 
me different from what I wilhed to fliew 
them, they and you will remember the oc- 
cafion of it. I am, fir, 

" Your very humble fervant, 
'' GEORGE WASHINGTONo*' 
" General Gage." 



THE preceding letters will ever convey 
to the world, a fufficient teflimony of the 
attention and care, which, at all times. Gen- 
eral Wafhington extended to the foldiers 
under his command. The whole of his of* 
licial letters are uniformly charaderifed 
with thofe tender and fympathetic pictures, 
which the appearance of real want in oth- 
ers imprefs on a lively and feeling mind, 
and which was the beft calculated to roufe 
in the minds of Congrefs, a fenfe of the fuf- 
ferings of thofe who were facrificing their 
eafe, and rifking their lives to eftablifh the 
independence of their country. Obferve 
the extreme modefly which he affumes, 



General George Wajhmgton. 113 

when he requefts for himfelf, even an aid- 
de-camp, which the multiplicity of his cares 
rendered effential — contrail it with that 
freedom with which he delivers his opinion 
on other fubjeds which regard the comfort 
of his fellow foldiers only — and with the 
manly language in which he addreffes Gen- 
eral Gage, for his ill treatment to thofe 
whom the misfortune of war placed in his 
power — Then we behold the citizen — the 
General. 

To thofe ungrateful few, who, ftimulated 
by malice, have heretofore endeavored to 
fully his honor and military reputation, and 
to imprefs upon the public mind, the ungen- 
erous idea, that he was inftrumental to the 
fliedding of innocent blood, and infliffing 
wanton cruelty upon the prifoners of the 
enemy, we recommend a perufal of his let- 
ters to Congrefs upon that fubjed: ; there 
they will find him combating the idea with 
the language of reafon, and cenfuring the 
inhuman practice. The hiftorians of the 
American war have uniformly reprefented 
the cafe of Major Andre, as an example of 
inhuman murder on the part of America. 



1J4 Biographical Memoirs of 

On this occalion. General Wafhington facri* 
ficed his own feelings, to the " neceflities oi 
inexorable juftice." The fentence was pro- 
nounced with much helitation, and, at its 
execution, he was feen to fhed tears — Nor 
is it neceffary for us to remind them of his 
fortitude to withfland the threats, or virtue 
to fcorn the bribes of the emiffaries of the 
Britifh Cabinet, for one uniform principle 
of prudence and wdfdom feems to have reg- 
ulated levery tranfadion of his life. 

When General Wafhington received the 
joyful intelligence of peace, he exprefled 
himfelf to the army who had accompanied 
him through the dangers, toils and difficul- 
ties' of this glorious ftruggle, in the follow- 
ing addrefs : 

ORDERS 

Iffued by General Wajhington^ io the Army. 
Head. Quarters, April 18, 1783. 

THE Commander in Chief orders the cef- 
fation of hoftilities between the United 
States of America and the King of Great 
Britain, to be publicly proclaimed to-mor- 
row, at twelve o'clock, at the new.building 



General George Wajhington, 115 

— and that the proclamation, which will be 
communicated herewith, be read to-mor- 
row evening at the head of every regiment 
and corps of the army ; after which the 
chaplains, with the feverai brigades, will 
render thanks to the Almighty God for all 
his mercies, particularly for his over-ruling 
the wrath of man to his own glory, and 
caufmg the rage of war to ceafe among na- 
tions. 

" Although the proclamation, before al- 
luded to, extends only to the prohibition of 
hoftilities, and not the annunciation of a 
general peace, yet it muft afford the moft 
rational and fmcere fatisfaclion to every be- 
nevolent mind, as it puts a period to a long 
a doubtful conteft, flops the effufion of hu- 
man blood, opens the profped to a more 
fplendid fcene, and, like another morning 
liar, promifes the approach of brighter days 
than hath hitherto illuminated the Weflern 
Hemifphere. On fuch a happy day, which 
is the harbinger of peace, a day which com- 
pletes the eighth year of the war, it would 
be ingratitude not to rejoice : it would be 



1 
116 Biographical Memoirs of 

infenfibility not to participate in the gener- 
al felicity. 

" The Commander in Chief, far from 
endeavoring to ftifle the feehngs of joy in 
his own bofom, offers his moft cordial con- 
gratulations on the occallon to all the offi- 
cers of every denomination ; to all the 
troops of the United States in general ; and, 
in particular, to thofe gallant and perfever- 
ing men who had refolved to defend the 
rights of their invaded country, fo long as 
the war fhould continue. For thefe are the 
men who ought to be conlidered as the 
pride and boaft of the American army ; and 
who, crowned with well-earned laurels, may 
foon withdraw from the field of glory to 
the more tranquil walks of civil life. While 
the Commander in Chief recoUefe the al- 
moil infinite variety of fcenes through which 
we have pafl, with a mixture of pleafure, 
aftonifliment, and gratitude ; while he con- 
templates the profped before us with rap- 
ture, he cannot help wifhing that all the 
brave men, of whatever condition they 
may be, who have fhared the toils and dan- 
gers of effeding this glorious revolution j 



General George Wajhingion. 117 

of refcuing millions from the hand of op- 
preffion, and of laying the foundation of a 
great empire, might be imprefl'ed wi«^h a 
proper idea of the dignified part they have 
been called lo ad, under the fmiles of Prov- 
idence, on the ftage of human affairs j for 
happy, thrice happy fhall they be pronoun- 
ced hereafter, who have contributed any 
thing, who have performed the meaneft of- 
fice in creeling this ftupendous fabric of 
FRiiiiDjM ANu EMPiRii ou the broad bafis of 
independence ; who have afllfted in pro- 
tecting the rights of human nature, and ef- 
tablifliing an afylum for the poor and oppref- 
fed of all nations and religions^ — The glori- 
ous talk for which we at firft flew to arms be- 
ing accomplifhed — the liberties of our coun- 
try being fully acknowledged and firmly fe- 
cured by the fmiies of Heaven on the puri- 
ty of our caufe, and the honeft exertions of 
a feeble people, determined to be free, a- 
gainft a powerful nation difpofed to opprefs 
them ; and the character of thofe who have 
perfevered through every extremity of 
hardfhip, fuffering, and danger, being im- 
mortalized by the iliuftrious appellation of 



118 Biographical Me7noirs of 

the patriot army^ nothing now remains but 
for the acflors of this mighty fcene to pre- 
ferve a perfed unvarying conMency of 
character through the very laft ad, to clofe 
the drama with applaufe ; anfi to retire 
from the military theatre with the fame ap- 
probation of angels and men which have 
crowned all their former virtuous adions. 
For this purpofe, no diforder or licentious- 
nefs muft be tolerated. — Every confiderate 
and well-difpofed foldier muft remember it 
will be abfolutely necefiary to wait with pa- 
tience until peace fliall be declared, or Con-N 
grefs Ihall be enabled to take proper meaf- 
ures for the fecurity of the public ftores, 
&c. As foon as thefe arrans^ements fhall be 
made, the General is confident, there will 
be no delay in difcharging, with every 
mark of diftinclion and honor, all the men 
enlifted for the war, who will then have 
faithfully performed their engagements v/ith 

the public. The General has already 

interefted himfelf in tlicir behalf, and he 
thinks he need not repeat the aflurance of 
his difpofition to be ufeful to them on the 
prefent and every other proper occafion. 



General George Wajhlngion. 119 

In the mean time, he is determined that no 
military neglects or exceffes iliall go unpun- 
ifhed while he retains the command of the 
army. 

" The 4^jutant. General will have fuch 
working parties detached, to ailift in ma- 
king the preparations for a general rejoi- 
cing, as the chief Engineer with the army 
fliall call for ; and the Quarter-Mafter- Gen- 
eral will, without delay, procure fuch a ^^xm- 
ber of difcharges to be printed as will be fuf- 
iicient for all the men enlifted for the war 
— he will pleafe to apply to head-quarters 
for the form.. — An extra ration of liquor to 
be ilTued to every man to-morrow to drink, 
" Perpetual Peace and Happinefs to the United 
States of America,'^ 



The following refolutions werepajfedby Congrefs^ 
on the 1th Augujl^ 17B3, vi% : 

« BY THE UNITED STATES, 

In Congress assembled. 
" Refolved unanimoujly^ Ten States being 
prefent, 

" THAT an Equeftrian Statue of Gener- 



120 Biographical Memoirs of 

al Wafhington be ereded at the place where 
the refidence of Congrefs fliall be eftablifh- 

ed: 

«' Refohed^ That the ftatue be of bronze, 
the General <o be reprefented in a Roman 
drefs, holding a truncheon in his right hand 
and his head encircled in a laurel wreath ; 
the ftatue to be fupported by a maible pe- 
deftal, on which are to be reprefented, in 
balfc) relievo, the following principal events 
of the war, in which General Wafhington 
commanded in perfon, viz. The Evacua- 
ation of Bofton — The Capture of the I^ef- 
fians at Trenton — The Battle of Princeton 
— The adlion of Monmouth — and the Sur- 
render of York. On the upper part of the 
front of the pedeftal to be engraved as fol- 
lows : 

" The United States in Congrefs affem- 
bled, ordered this ftatue to be erected in 
the year of our Lord, 1783, in honor of 

GEORGE WASHINGTON, 
the illuftrious Commander in Chief of the 
Armies of the United States of America, 
during the war, which vindicated and fe- 



General George Wajhingion. 12 i 

cured their liberty, fovereignty and inde- 

pendence." 

" Refohed^ That a ftatue conformable to 

the above plan, be executed by the beft ar- 
tift in Europe, under the fuperintendance 
of the Minifter of the United States at the 
Court of Verfailles, and that money to de- 
fray the expence of the fame, be furniflied 
from the Treafury of the United States. 

" Refolved^ That the Secretary of Con- 
grefs tranfmit to the Minifter of the United 
States at the Court of Verfailles, the beft re- 
femblance of General Wafhington that can 
be procured, for the purpofe of having the 
above ftatue erefted, together with the fit- 
teft defcription of the events which are to 
be the fubjed of the baffo relievo." 



On the 26th of Auguft, 178S, General 
Wafliington, at the requeft of Congrefs, 
proceeded to Pprinceton, where the Con- 
grefs was then fitting, and being introduced 
by two members, the Prefident addrefled 
him as follows, viz. 



122 Biographical Memoirs of 

" Sir, 

*' CONGRESS feel particular pleafure 
in feeing your Excellency, and in congratu- 
lating you on the fuccefs of a war in which 
you have adled fo confpicuous a part : 

" It has been the fingular happinefs of the 
United States, that during a war fo long, fo 
dangerous and fo important. Providence has 
been gracioully pleafed to preferve the life 
of a general, who has merited and poffeffed 
the uninterrupted confidence and affeclion 
of his fellow-citizens. In other nations, 
many have performed fervices for which 
they have deferved and received the thanks 
of the public ; but to you, fir, peculiar praife 
is due : your fervices have been eifential in 
acquiring and eftablifliing the freedom and 
idependence of your country, they deferve 
the grateful acknowledgment of a free and 
independent nation ; thofe acknowledg- 
ments Congrefs have the fatisfadlion of ex- 
preffing to your excellency. 

" Hoflilities have now ceafed, but your 
country ftill needs your fervices ; flie wifli- 
es to avail herfelf of your talents in form- 
ing the arrangements which will be necef- 



General George Wajhington, 123 

fary for her in the time of peace ; for this 
reafon, your attendance at Congrefs has 
been requefted. A Committee is appoint- 
ed io confer with your Excellency, and to 
receive your ailiftance in preparing and ad- 
jufting plans relative to thofe important ob- 
jeds." 

To which his Excellency inade the following 
REPEY, 
" Mr. Frefideni, 

" I AM too fenfible of the honorable 
reception I have now experienced, not to be 
penetrated with the deepeft feelings of grat- 
itude. 

** Notwithftanding Congrefs appear to 
eftimate the value of my life beyond any 
fervices I have been able to render the Uni- 
ted States, yet I muil be permitted to con- 
fider the wifdom and unanimity of our na- 
tional councils, the firmnefs of our citizens, 
and the patience and bravery of our troops, 
which have produced fo happy a termina- 
tion of the war, as the moft confpicuous ef- 
fe<3: of the Divine interpofition, and the fur- 
eft prefage of our future happinefs. 



124 Biographical Memoirs of 

" Highly gratified by the favorable fenti- 
nients which Congrefs are pleafed to exprefs 
of my paft condud, and amply rewarded 
by the confidence and afFedlion of my feU 
low-citizens, I cannot hefitate to contribute 
my befl endeavors towards the eflabliih- 
ment of the national fecurity in whatever 
manner the fovereign power may think 
proper to direct, until the ratification of the 
definitive treaty of peace, or the final evac- 
uation of our country by the Britifh forces 
— after either of which events, I Hiall alk 
permiffion to retire to the peaceful fliade of 
private life. 

" Perhaps, fir, no occafion may offer more 
fuitable than the prefent, to exprefs my 
humble thanks to God, and my grateful ac- 
knowledgments to my country, for the 
great and uniform fupport I have received 
in every viciflitude of fortune, and for the 
many diftinguifhed honors which Congrefs 
have been pleafed to confer upon me in the 
courfe of the war." 

After the final conclufion of the peace in 
17835 a proclamation was iffued by Coa^ 



General George WaJhingion» 125 

grefs, Ocflober 1 8th, direding the difcharge 
of the army : whereupon General . Wafh- 
ington, before he refigned his important 
charge, delivered the following elegant and 
pathetic farewell addrefs, to the oiEcers and 
foldiers, under his command, viz. 

GENERAL WASHINGTON' % FAREWELL 
ORDERS, 

To the Armies of the United States* 
Rocky-Hill, near Pbinclton, 
November 2, 1783. 
THE United States in Congrefs affem* 
bled, after giving the mofl: honorable tefti- 
mony to the federal armies, and prefenting 
them with the thanks of their country, for 
their long, eminent and faithful fervices 
having thought proper, by their proc- 
lamation, bearing date the 1 8th of Od:ober 
laft, to difcharge fuch part of the troops as 
were engaged for the war, and to permit the 
officers on furlough to retire from fervice, 
from and after to-morrow, which proclam- 
ation having been communicated in the pub- 
lic papers for the information and govern- 
ment of all concerned ; it only remains for 
the commander in chief to addrefs hinafelf 
L 2 



126 Biographical Memoirs of 

once more, and that for the lad time, to the 
armies of the United States (however wide- 
ly difperfed the individuals who coinpofed 
them may be) and bid them an affedlionate 
—a long farewell. 

But before the commander in chief takes 
his final leave of thofe he holds moft dear, 
lie wifhes to indulge himfelf a few moments 
in calling to mind a flight review of the paft 
—he will then take the liberty of exploring, 
with his military friends, their future prof- 
pefts ; of advifing the general line of con- 
dud which, in his opinion, ought to be pur- 
fued ; and he will conclude the addrefs, by 
expreffing the obligations he feels himfelf 
under for the fpirited and able affiftance he 
has experienced from them, in the perform- 
ance of an arduous office. 

A contemplation of the complete attain- 
ment, at a period earlier than could have 
been expected, of the objed for which we 
contended, againft fo formidable a power, 
cannot but infpire us with aftonifliment and 
gratitude. The difadvantageous circum- 
ftances on our part, under which the war 
was undertaken can never be forgotten. 



General George Wajhingion. 127 

The Angular interpolitions of Providence, 
in our feeble condition, were fuch as could 
fcarcely efcape the attention of the moft un- 
obferving ; while the unparalleled perfe- 
verance of the armies of the United States, 
through almoft every poffible fuffering and 
difcouragement, for the fpace of eight long 
years, was little ihort of a {landing miracle. 
It is not the meaning, nor within the 
compafs of this addrefs, to detail the hard- 
fhips peculiarly incident to our fervice, or 
to defcribe the dillrefles, which, in feveral 
inftances, have refulted from the extremes 
of hunger and nakednefs, combined with 
the rigors of an inclement feafon : nor is it 
neceffary to dwell on the dark fide of paft 
affairs. Every American officer and foldier 
mull now confole himfelf for any unpleas- 
ant circumftances which may have occurred 
by the recollection of the uncommon fcenes 
in which he has been called to ad no inglo- 
rious partj and the aflonifliing events of 
which he has been a witnefs : events which 
have feldom, if ever before, taken place be- 
fore on the flage of human adion, nor can 
they probably ever happen again. For^ 



1 28 Biographical Memoirs of 

who has before feen a dilciplined army for- 
med at once from fuch raw materials ? Who 
that was not a witnefs, could imagine, that 
the mcft violent local prejudices would 
ceafe fo foon, and that men who came 
from the different parts of the continent 
ftrongly difpofed, by the habits of educa- 
tion, to defpife and quarrel with each oth- 
er, would inftantly become one patriotic 
band of brothers ? or who that was not on 
the fpot, can trace the Heps, by which fuch 
a wonderful revolution has been effected, 
and fuch a glorious period put to all our 
warlike toils ? 

It is univerfally acknowledged that the 
enlarged profpeds of happinefs, opened by 
the confirmation of our independence and 
fovereignty, almoft exceed the power of 
defcription : and fliall not the brave men 
who have contributed fo effentially to thefe 
ineliimable acquifitions, retiring vii^orious 
from the field of war to the field of agricul- 
ture, participate all the bleffings which have 
been obtained ? In fuch a republic, who will 
exclude them from the rights of citizens, 
and the fruits of their labors ? In fuch a 



i 



General George Wajhington. I29 

country fo happily circumftanced, the pur- 
fuits of commerce and the cultivation of 
the foil will untold to induftry the certain 
road to competence. To thofe hardy fol- 
diers, who are actuated by the fpirit of ad- 
venture, the fifheries will afford ample and 
profitable employment ; and the extenfive 
and fertile regions of the weft will yield a 
moft happy afylum to thofe, who, fond of 
domeftic enjoyment, are feeking for perfon- 
al independence. Nor is it poffible to con- 
ceive that any one of the United States will 
prefer a national bankruptcy, and a diffolu- 
tion of the union, to a compliance with the 
requifitions of Congrefs and the payment of 
its juft debts — so that the ollicers and fol- 
diers may expecl confiderable afllftance, in 
re-commencing their civil occupations, 
from the fums due to them from the pub- 
lic, which muft and will moft inevitably b^ 
paid. 

In order to effect this defirable purpofe, 
and to remove the prejudices which may 
have taken pofTeflxon of the minds of any of 
the good people of the States, it is earneftly 
recommended to all the troops, that, with 



130 Biographical Memoirs of 

ftrong attachment to the union, they fliould 
carry with them into civil fociety the moft 
conciKating difpofitions ; and that they 
fhould pro^e themfelves not lefs virtuous 
and ufeful as citizens, than they have been 
perfevering and viclorjous as foldiers. What 
though there ihouid be fome envious indi- 
viduals, who are unwilling to pay the debt 
the public has contra(5led5 or to yield the 
tribute due to merit, yet let fuch unworthy 
treatment produce no invedive, or any in- 
ftance of intemperate conduct — let it be re- 
membered, that the unbialTed voice of the 
free citizens of the United States has prom- 
ifed the juft reward, and given the merited 

" applaufe \ let it be known and remember- 
ed, that the reputation of the federal ar- 
mies is eftablilhed beyond the reach cf ma- 
levolence, and let a confcioufnefs of their at- 
chievements and fame ftill incite the men 
who compofed them, to honorable a£lions, 

, under the perfuafion, that the virtues of e- 
conomy, prudence, and induflry, will not 
be the lefs amiable in civil life, than the 
more fplendid qualities of valor, perfever- 
ance and enterprize, were in the field. Ev- 



I 



,<'/ 



General George Wajhington, 131 

ery one may reft affured that much, very 
much of the future happinefs of the officers 
and men, will depend upon the wife and 
manly condud which fhall be adopted by 
them, when they are mingled with the 
great body of the community. And, al- 
though the general has fo frequently given 
it as his opinion, in the moft public and ex- 
plicit manner, that unlefs the principles of 
the federal government were properly fup- 
ported, and the powers of the union increa- 
fed, the honor, dignity, and juflice of the 
nation would be loft for ever ; yet he can- 
not help repeating on this occafion fo inter- 
efting a fentiment, and leaving it as his laft 
injundion to every officer and foldier, who 
may view the fubjed in th^ fame ferious 
point of light, to add his beft endeavors to 
thole of his worthy fellow citizens, towards 
effeding thefe great and valuable purpofes, 
on which our very exiftence as a nation fo 
materially depends. 

The commander in chief conceives little 
is now wanting to enable the foldier to 
change his military character into that of a 
citizen, but that fteady and decent tenor of 



2 32 Bi ographkal Memoirs of 

behaviour, which has generally diftinguifii- 
ed not only the army under his immediate 
command, but the different detachments 
and feparate armies, through the courfe of 
the war. From their good fenfe and pru- 
dence he anticipates the happieft confequen- 
ces — and while he congratulates them on 
the glorious occafion which renders their 
fervices in the field no longer neceffary, he 
wiflies to exprefs the ftrong obligations he 
feels himfelf under, for the ailiftance he has 
received from every clafs, and in every in- 
flance. He prefents his thanks in the moft 
ferious and afFedionate manner to the gen- 
eral officers, as well for their counfel on ma- 
ny interefting occafions, as for their ardor 
in promoting the fuccefs of the plans he had 
adopted *, to the commandants of regi- 
ments and corps, and to the other officers, 
for their great zeal and attention in carry- 
ing his orders promptly into execution ; to 
the ilafF for their alacrity and exadnefs in 
performing the duties of their feveral de- 
partments ; and to the non-commiffioned 
officers and private foldiers, for their extra- 
ordinary patience in fufiering as well as their 



General George Wqfhingion. 133 

invincible fortitude in^ adlion ; to the va<» 
rious branches of the army, the general 
takes this laft and folemn opportunity of 
profeffing his inviolable attachment and 
friendfhip. He wifhes more than bare pro- 
feffions were in his power, that he was real- 
ly able to be ufeful to them all in future 
life. — He flatters himfelf, they will do him 
the juftice to believe, that whatever could 
with propriety be attempted by him, has 
been done. And being now to conclude 
thefe his laft public orders, to take his ulti- 
mate leave in a fliort time, of the military 
chara<5ler — and bid a final adieu to the ar- 
mies he has fo long had the honor to com- 
mand — he can only again offer, in their be- 
half, his recommendations to their grateful 
country, and his prayers to the God of ar- 
mies. May ample juftice be done them 
here, and may the choiceft of Heaven's fa- 
vors both here and hereafter, attend thofe, 
who, under the Divine aufpices, have fecur- 
ed innumerable bleffings for others ! With 
thefe wifties and this benedidion, the com- 
mander in chief is about to retire from fer- 
vice. The curtain of feparation will foon 
M 



134 Biographical Memoirs of 

be drawn — and the military fcene to him 
will be clofed for ever. 

E. Hand, Adj. Gen. 

TO the preceding addrefs the officers of 
the part of the army remaining on the banks 
of the Hudfon, returned a fuitable anfwer j 
they thanked the commander in chief for 
the communication of his afFedionate affur- 
ances of his inviolable attachment and 
friendfhip ; they assured his Excellen- 
cy that although as yet his endeavors 
to enfure to the armies the juft reward 
of their fervices, had failed of fuccefs, they 
were convinced that it had arifen from 
caufes which it was not in his power 
to control, and fhould the contempla- 
ted measure never be attained, that their 
patriotifm jQiould ftill remain uiifhaken : 
They were happy in the opportunity of con- 
gratulating his Excellency on the certain 
conclufion of the DiiFiNiTivE treaty of 
Peace, affuring him, that, relieved at laft 
from long fufpenfe, their warmeft wifh was 
to return to the bofom of their country, to 
refume the charader of citizens ;; and that 



General George Wajhingion. 1 35 

it fliould be their higheft ambition to be- 
come ufeful ones. To his Excellency they 
were convinced that this great event muft 
be peculiarly pleafmg ; becaufe, while at 
the head of the armies, urged by patriotic 
virtues and magnanimity, he perfevered, 
under the prelTure of every poflible aifficul- 
ty and difcouragement, in the purfuit of 
the great obje6ls of the war — the freedom 
and fafety of his country ; — his heart pant- 
ed for the tranquil enjoyments of peace. 
They concluded with fincere prayers to 
God, long to beftow happinefs to their 
commander, and that when he quits the 
ilage of human life, he may receive from 
the unerring Judge, the rewards of valor 
exerted to fave the oppreiTed, of patriotifm 
and dilinterefted virtue. 

On the 25th of I^ovember, 1783, New- 
York was evacuated by the Britifh army ; 
fame day the American army marched in, 
and took pofleilion of the city ; after which 
General Wafhington and the governor 
made their public entry. The arrangement 
and whole condud of the march and the 
tranquillity which fucceeded it through the 



1 36 Biographical Memoirs of 

day and night, was admirable ! and the 
grateful citizens, feeling the moft affe6lion- 
ate impreflions from the elegant and effi- 
cient difpofition which prevailed through 
the whole event, on their returning from 
exile, addreffed his excellency the comman- 
der in chief in behalf of themfelves and 
their fufFering brethren, looking up to him 
with'unufual joy : they welcomed him to 
the city, long torn from them by the hand 
of oppreffion, but which by his wifdom, un- 
der the guidance of Providence, had again 
been rendered the feat of peace and free- 
dom : they alTured him that they would 
preferve, to the laft, their gratitude for his 
fervices and veneration for his character, 
and required him " to accept their fincere 
and earneft wiflies, that he may long enjoy 
that calm domeftic felicity, which he had 
fo generally facrificed ; that the cries of in- 
jured liberty may never more interrupt his 
repofe ; and that his happiness may be e- 
qual to his virtues." 

Previous to General Wafhington's leav- 
ing New- York, on the 6th of December, 
the principal officers of the army Uien ia 



General George Wajhington, 137 

the city, aflembled at Frances' tavern, to 
take a final leave of their illuflrious and 
much loved commander. The paflions of 
human nature v^-ere never more tenderly 
agitated than in this interefting fcene. His 
Excellency having filled a glafs of wine, 
thus addreffed his brave fellow foldiers : — 

" With a heart full of love and gratitude I 
710W take leave of you : I moji devoutly wifh 
that your latter days may be as profperous and 
happy ^ as your former ones have been glorious and 
honorable,^' 

Thefe words produced extreme fenfitili- 
ty on both fides : they were anfwered by 
warm expreffions, and fervent wifties, from 
the gentlemen of the army, whofe truly 
pathetic feelings, it is not in our power to 
convey to the reader. Soon after this 
fcene was clofed, the Governor, the council 
and citizens of the firft diflinclion waited 
on the General, and in terms the moft affec- 
tionate, took their leave — The corps of 
Light Infantry was drawn up in a Ime, and 
the Commander in Chief pafTed through 
them on his way to White hall, where he 
embarked in his barge for Powles Hook, 
M 2 



138 Biographical Memoirs of 

from whence he proceeded to Philadelphia, 
where he m^.de a fliort flay. Here he de- 
livered to the Comptroller of the public 
Treafury an account of the expenditure of 
all the public money which he had receiv- 
ed daring the war ; by which it appeared 
that the whole fum which had gone through 
his hands only amou ated to fourteen thou- 
fand four hundred and feventy-nine pounds, 
eighteen fhiilings and ninepence fterling, a- 
bout iixty-four thouCand three hundred and 
fitt) dollars, nearly one hu ndred and fifty 
dollars per week. 

From Philadelphia he proceeded to An- 
apolis where the Congrefs was then fitting, 
and having obtained leave, he terminated 
his military career, and refigned his com- 
miffion on the 2Sd of December : upon this 
occafion he delivered the following fhort 
and pathetic addrefs, viz. 

General Washington's Address. 
To Congress on the Resignation of his Commis* 

sion. 
" Mr* President^ 

« THE great events on which my refig- 
nation depended, having at length taken 



General George Wajhington. 1 39 

place, I have now the honor of offering my 
fincere congratulations to Congrefs, and of 
prefenting myfelf before them, to furrender 
into their hands the truft committed to me 
and to claim the indulgence of retiring 
from the fervice of my country. 

" Happy in the confirmation of our in- 
dependence and fovereignty, and pleafed 
with the opportunity afforded the United 
States of becoming a refpeclable nation — 
I refign, with fatisfaclion, the appointment 
I accepted with diffidence, a diffidence in 
my abiUties to accomplifh fo arduous a tafk, 
which howevf^r, was fuperceded by a confi- 
dence in the reditude of our caufe, the fup- 
porX. of the fupreme power of the union, 
and the patronage of Heaven. 

" The fuccefsful termination of the war 
has verified the moft fanguine expecta- 
tions ; and my gratitude for the interpofi- 
tion of Providence, and the affiflance I hav^e 
received from my countrymen, increafes 
with every review of the momentous con- 
teft. 

" While I repeat my obligations to the 
army in general, I fliould do. injuftice to my 



140 Biographical Memoirs of 

own feelings not to acknowledge, In this 
place, the peculiar fervices and diftinguifli- 
ed merits of the gentlemen who have been 
attached to my perfon during the war. It 
was impoffible the choice of confidential of- 
ficers to compofe my family fliould be more 
fortunate \ permit me, fir, to recommend 
in particular thofe who have continued in 
the fervice to the prefent moment, as wor- 
thy the favorable notice and patronage of 
Congrefs. 

" I confider it as an indifpenfable duty to 
clofe this laft folemn act of my official life, 
by commending the interefi:s of our deareft 
country to the protection of Almighty 
God, and thofe who have the fuperintend- 
ance of them to his holy keeping. 

*-' Having now finifhed the work afiigned 
me, I retire from the great theatre of ac- 
tion : and bidding an affeCbionate farewell 
to this auguft body, under whofe orders I 
have fo long acted, I here ofi'er my com- 
mifiion, and take my leave of ail the em- 
ployments of public life. 

G. WASHINGTON." 
City cf Annapolis^ Dec. 23, 17S3. 



General George Wajhingion, 141 



answer of congress. 
Sir, 

THE United States in Congrefs affem- 
bled, receive, with emotions too affecting 
for utterance, the folemn refignation of the 
authorities under which you have led their 
troops with fuccefs, through a perilous and 
doubtful war. 

"^ Called upon by your country to de- 
fend its invaded rights, you accepted the fa- 
cred charge before it had formed alliances, 
and whilft it was without funds or a gov- 
ernment to fupport you. 

" You have conHucled the great military 
conteft with wifdom and fortitude, invaria- 
bly regarding the rights of the civil power, 
through all difafters and changes ; you 
have, by the love and confidence of your 
feilowcitizens, enabled them to difplay 
their martial genius, and tranfmit their 
fame to poflerity ; you have perfevered, 
till thefe United States, aided by a magnan- 
imous king and nation, have been enabled 
under a jufl Providence, to clofe the war in 
freedom, iafety, and independence ; on 



142 Biographical Memoirs of 

which happy event, we lincerely join yo]il 
in congratulations. 

'^ Having defended the ftandard of liberty 
in this new world — having taught a leff ju 
ufeful to thofe who infiict, and to thofe 
who feel opprefiion — you retire from the 
great theatre of adion, with the blefllng of 
your fellow citizens ; but the glory of your 
virtues will not terminate with your milita- 
ry command 5 it will continue to animate 
remoteil ages. We feel, with you, our ob- 
ligations to the army in general, and will 
particularly charge ourfelves with the in- 
terefts of thofe confidential officers, who 
have attended your perfon to this afFeding 
moment. 

" We join you in commending the inter- 
efts of our deareft country to the protection 
of Almighty God, befeeching him to dif- 
pofe the hearts and minds of its citizens to 
improve the opportunity afforded them of 
becoming a happy and refpeciable nation ; 
and for you, we addrefs to him our earnefl 
prayers, that a life fo beloved may be fos- 
tered with all his care ; that your days 
may be as happy as they have been illuftri- 



General George Wajhingion. 143 

ous ; and that he will finally give you that 
reward which the world cannot give." 



With thefe becoming fentiments. Gen. 
Wafhington retired from the toils of war 
to enjoy in private the rural pleafures of 
Mount Vernon, carrying with him the 
thanks and blefiings of a grateful people, 
emulating the example of the virtuous Ro- 
man General,* who, victorious, left the ten- 
ted field, covered with honor, and with- 
drew from public life. 

No perfon who had not the advantage 
o^being prefent when he received the in- 
telligence of peace, and who did not accom- 
pany him to his domeftic retirement, can 
defcribe the relief vt^hich that joyful event 
brought to his laboring mind, or the fu- 
preme fatisfa(5lion with which he withdrew 
to private life. From his triumphal entry 
into New- York, upon the evacuation of 
that city by the Britifli army, to his arrival 
at Mount Vernon, after the refignation of 

* Cincinnatus. 



14)4} Biographical Memoirs of 

his commiiTion to Congrefs, feftive crowds 
impeded his paffage through all the popu- 
lous towns : the devotion of the whole 
people purfued him, with prayers to Hea- 
ven for bleffings on his head, while their 
gratitude fought the moll expreffive lan- 
guage of manifefting itfelf to him as their 
common father and benefactor. When he 
became a private citizen he had the unufual 
felicity to find that his native ftate was a- 
mong the moft zealous in doing juflice to 
his merits ; and that ftronger demonftra- 
tions of afFe61:ionate efteem (ifpolTible) were 
given by the citizens of his neighborhood, 
than by any other defcription of men on 
the continent. As he always refufed to ac- 
cept any pecuniary compenfation for his 
public fervices, or provifion for the aug- 
mented expenfes which he muft have in- 
curred in confequence of his public employ, 
ment, no falary was ever annexed by Con- 
grefs to his important command, and he 
only drew weekly for the expenfes of his 
public table and other neceffary demands, 
although propofals have been made in the 
moft delicate manner, particularly by the 



General George Wajhingion. 145 

ftates of Virginia and Pennfylvania. His 
conducl in this particular is noble and mag- 
nanimous, and exhibits to the world an un- 
deniable evidence of felf-difintereilednefs, of 
the purity of his motives and integrity of 
his heart. His anfwer to the Governor of 
Virginia, declining the acceptance of a pre- 
fent from that State, is fo charaderiftic of 
his whole public conduct, that we are indu- 
ced to give it in his own words, as we are 
convinced it will prove acceptable to his 
admirers. 



LETTER, 

From hts Excellency General Wajhingion^ to the 
Governor of Virginia^ declining the accept^ 
ance of fifty jhares in the companies for open^ 
ing the navigation of James and Potomac 
rivers, which had been vefied in him by aa 
of the Legiflature of that commonwealth, as a 
fmall acknowledgment of his merits afidfer* 
vices* 

" Your Excellency having been pleafed 
to tranfmit to me a copy of the aft appro- 
N 



1 46 Biographical Memoirs of 

priating to my benefit, certain fliares in the 
compaPiies for opening the navigation of 
James and Potomac rivers, 1 take the liber- 
ty of returning to the alTembly, through 
your hands, the profound and grateful ac- 
knowledgments, infpired by fo fignal a 
mark of their beneficent intentions towards 
me. I beg you, fir, to affure them, that I 
am filled on this occafion with every fenti- 
ment which can flow from a heart warm 
with love for my country — fenfible to eve- 
ry token of its approbaton and afFeclion, 
and felicitous to tefl:ify, in every infiance, a 
refpedfui fubmifiion to its wnfhes. With 
thefe fentiments in my bofom, I need not 
dwell on the anxiety I feel, in being obli- 
ged in this inftance, to decline a favor, 
which is rendered no lefs flattering by the 
manner in which it is conveyed, than it is 
affedionate in itfelf. In explaining this ob- 
ligation I pafs over a comparifon of my en- 
deavors in the public fervice, with the ma- 
ny honorable teftimonies of approbation 
which have already fo far over-rated and o- 
ver paid them — reciting one confideration 
only, which fupercedes the necefllty of re- 



General George Wajhington. 147 

curring to every other. When I was firft 
called to the flation with which I was hon- 
ored during the late conflict for our liber- 
ties y to the diffidence which I had fo many 
reafons to feel in accepting it, I thought it 
jny duty to join a firm resolution to 

SHUT MY HAND AGAINST EVERY PECUNIA- 
RY RECOMPENCE. To this rcfolutiou I 
have inviolably adhered ; and from this 
refolution (if I had the inclination) I do not 
confider myfelf at liberty to depart. Whilft 
I repeat, therefore, my fervent acknowl- 
edgments to the legiflature for their very 
kind fentiments and intentions in my fa- 
vor, and at the fame time beg them to be 
perfuaded that a remembrance of this An- 
gular proof of goodnefs towards me, will 
never ceafe to cherifh returns of the warm- 
eft affection and gratitude ; I muft pray 
that their acl, fo far as it has for its objedl: 
my perfonal emolument, may not have its 
effecl. But if it fhould pleafe the general 
affembly to permit me to turn the deftina^ 
tion of the fund vefted in me from my pri- 
vate emolument to objects of a pubUc na- 
ture, it will be my ftudy, in felecling thefe, 



148 Biographical Memoirs of 

to prove the fincerity of my gratitude, by 
preferring fuch as may appear moft fubfer- 
vient to the enlightened and patriotic views 
of the legiflature. I am, &c. 

GEORGE WASHINGTON.'^ 



Upon this requeft, the legiflature of Vir- 
ginia repealed fo much of the ad referred 
to as related to the veiling the above 
mentioned fhares in General Wafhington 
and heirs,and enaded that the Ihares and 
profits accruing therefrom, Ihould Hand ap- 
propriated to fuch objeds of a public nature 
as his Excellency Ihould dired and appoint. 
Sometime afterwards, General Wafhington 
applied thefe fhares of the canal company 
to the ereclion and eftabliftiment of two 
feminaries of learning in Virginia, which 
were accomplifhed under his immediate di- 
redion. 

Although the enlarged mind of general 
Wafhington felt fuperior to fuch confidera- 
tions, and nobly refufed any recompence for 
himfelf, yet he eloquently, though unfuc- 
cefsfully, pleaded the caufe of his fellow-fol- 



General George Wajhington. 149 

diers, and other public creditors. He con- 
fidered himfelf as pledged to the army that 
their country would do them ample juftice, 
in rewarding them for their glorious fervi- 
ces, exercifed in its defence, and finally 
crowned by the complete eftablifliment of 
its liberty and independence. He could 
forefee the evils which were to follow if a 
regular and efficient revenue fyftem was not 
purfued : — To efFed thefe purpofes, and to 
inculcate the neceffity of union, juftice, fub- 
ordination, and of fuch principles and prac- 
tices as the new iituation of his country re- 
quired, he publiflied his parting advice to 
his countrymen, in the following eloquent 
and circular letter, addrefl'ed to the gover- 
nors of the individual States, viz. 

A CIRCULAR LETTER 

From his Excellency General George Wajhing-^ 
ton^ Qom?nander in Chief of the Armies of the 
United States of America^ to the Governors of 
the fever al States. 

SIR, 

THE great objeft for which I had the 
honor to bold an appointment in the fer- 
N 2 



150 Biographical Memoirs of 

vice of my country, being accompliflied, I 
am now preparing to rifign it into the hands 
of Congref$, and return to that domeftic 
retirement, which, it is well known, I left 
with the greateft reludance ; a retirement 
for which I have n^ver ceafed to figh 
through a long and painful abfence, in 
which (remote from the noife and trouble 
of the world) I meditate to pafs the remain- 
der of life in a flate of undifturbed repofe : 
but, before I carry this refolution into efFed:, 
I think it a duty incumbent on me to make 
this my laft official communication, to con- 
gratulate you on the glorious events which 
Heaven has been pleafed to produce in our 
favor, to offer my fentiments refpeding 
fome important fubje<^s, which appear to 
me to be intimately connected with the 
tranquillity of the United States, to take 
my leave of your Excellency as a public 
character, and to give my final bleffmg to 
that country in whofe fervice I have fpent 
the prime of my life ; for whofe fake I have 
confuvned fo many anxious days and watch- 
ful nights : and whofe happinefs, being ex- 



General George WaJhmgio72, 151 

tremely dear to me, will always conflitute 
no inconiiderable part of my own. 

Impreffed with the livelieft fenfibility on 
tfeis plealing occafion, I will claim the indul- 
gence of dilating the more copioufly on the 
iubjedl of our mutual felicitation. When 
we confider the magnitudeof the prize we 
contended for, the doubtful nature of the 
conteft, and the favorable manner in which 
it has terminated ; we fhall find the great- 
eft poflible reafon for gratitude and rejoi- 
cing : this is a theme that will afford infi- 
nite delight to every benevolent and liberal 
mind, whether the event in contemplation 
be confidered as a fource of prefent enjoy- 
ment, or the parent of future happinefs : 
and we fhall have equal occafion to felici- 
tate ourfelves on the lot which Providence 
has afligned us, whether we view it in a 
natural, a political, or a moral point of 
view. 

The citizens of America, placed in the 
moft enviable condition, as the fole lords 
and proprietors of a vaft tract of continent, 
comprehending all the various foils and cli- 
mates of the world, and^ abounding with 



152 Biographical Memoirs of 

all the iieceffaries and conveniences of life, 
are now, by the late fatisfadory pacifica- 
tion, acknowledged to be polfeffed of abfo- 
lute freedom and independency ; they are 
from this period to be confidered as the ac- 
tors on a moft confpicuous theatre, which 
feems to be peculiarly defigned by Provi- 
dence for the difplay of human greatnefs 
and felicity ; here they are not only fur- 
rounded with every thing that can contri- 
bute to the completion of private and do- 
meftic enjoyment, but Heaven has crowned 
all its other bleffings, by giving a furer op- 
portunity for political happinefs than any 
other nation has ever been favored with. 
Nothing can illuilrate thefe obfervations 
more forcibly than the recolle(5lion ©f the 
happy conjundure of times and circumftan- 
ces, under which our Republic affumed its 
rank among the nations. The foundation 
of our empire was not laid in a gloomy age 
of ignorance and fuperftition, but at an e- 
pocha when the rights of mankind were 
better underftood and more clearly defin- 
ed, than at any former period : refearches 
of the human mind after fociai happinefs 



General George Wajhington. 15s 

have been carried to a great extent : the 
treafures of knowledge acquired by the la- 
bors of philofophers, fagg^ and legiflators 
through a long fuccellion of years, are laid 
open for ufe, and their collefted wifdom 
may be happily appHed in the eftablifli- 
ment of our forms of government : the 
free cultivation of letters, the unbounded 
extenfion of commerce, the prrgreffive re- 
finement of manners, the growing liberali- 
ty of fentiment, and above all, the pure and 
benign light of revelation, have had a mel- 
iorating influence on mankind, and increaf- 
ed the bleilings of fociety. At this aufpi- 
cious period the United States came into 
exiftence as a nation, and if her citizens 
fhould not be completely free and happy, 
the fault will be entirely their own. 1 

Such is our fituation, and fuch are our 
profpecls : but notwithflanding the cup of 
bleffingis thus reached out to us — notwith- 
flanding happinefs is ours, if we have a dif- 
pofition to feize the occafion, and make it 
our own ; yet it appears to me, there is an 
option flill left to the United States of A- 
merica, whether they will be refpeftable 



154 Biographical Memoirs of 

and profperous, or contemptible and mifer- 
able as a nation. This is the time of their 
political probation ; this is the moment, 
when the eyes of the world are turned up- 
on them ; this is the time to eflabhfh or 
ruin their national charadler forever ; this 
is the fovorable moment to give fuch a tone 
to the Federal Government, as will enable 
it to anfwer the ends of its inftitution ; or 
this may be the ill-fated moment for relax- 
ing the powers of the Union, annihilating 
the cement of the Confederation, and ex- 
pofe us to become the (port of European 
politics, which may play one State againft 
another, to prevent their growing impor- 
tance, and to ferve their own interefted 
purpofes. For, according to the fyftem of 
policy the States ftiall adopt at this mo- 
ment, they will ftand or fall ; and, by their 
confirmation or lapfe, it is yet to be deci- 
ded, whether the revolution muft ultimate- 
ly be confidered as a bleffing or a curfe, 
not to the prefent age alone, for with our 
fate will the deftiny of unborn millions be 
involved. 

With this convidion of the importance 



General George Wajhington. \55 

of the prefent criiis, lilence in me would be 
a crime. I vviii therefore fpeak to your Ex- 
cellency the language of freedom and iin- 
cerity, without difguife. I am aware, how- 
ever, thofe who differ from me in political 
fentiments, may perhaps remark I am flep- 
ping out of the proper line of my duty; 
and they may poilibly afcribe to arrogance 
and to oftentation, whati know is the refult 
of the pureft intention ; but the rectitude of 
my own heart, which difdains fuch unwor- 
thy motives — the part I have hitherto ad- 
ed in life — the determination I have form- 
ed of not taking any fhare in public bufi- 
nefs hereafter— the ardent defire I feel and 
fliall continue to manifeft, of quietly enjoy- 
ing in private life, after all the toils of war, 
the benefits of a wife and liberal govern- 
ment — will, I flatter myfelf, fooner or later, 
convince my countrymen, that I could have 
no flnifler views in delivering, with fo lit- 
tle referve, tne opinions contained in this 
addrefs. 

There are four things which I humbly 
conceive are effential to the well-being, \ 
may even venture to fay to the exiftence of 



156 Biographical Memoirs of 

the United States, as an independent pow- 
er. 

1st. an indiflbluble union of the States un- 
der one federal head. 

2dly. A facred regard to public juflice. 

3dly. The adoption of a proper peace es- 
tabliftiment. And, 

4thly. The prevalence of that pacific and 
friendly difpofition among the people of the 
United States, which will induce them to 
forget their local prejudices and policies, 
to make thofe mutual conceffions which are 
requifite to the general profperlty, and, in 
feme inilances, to facrifice their individual 
advantages to the intereft of the communi- 
ty. 

Thefe are the pillars on which the glori- 
ous fabric of our independency and nation- 
al charader muft be fupported. Liberty is 
the bafis, and whoever would dare to fap 
the foundation, or overturn the flrudure, 
under whatever fpecious pretext he may 
attempt it, will merit the bittereft execra- 
tion andfevereft pu .iftiment which can be 
inflicted by his injured country. 

On the three firjH articles I will coake a 



General George Wajhington, 157 

few obfervations, leaving the laft to the 
good fenfe and ferious conllderation of thofe 
immediately concerned. 

Under the firft head, although it may not 
be necelTary or proper for me, in this place, 
to enter into a particular difquifition of the 
'principles of the union, and to take up the 
great queftion which has been frequently 
agitated, whether it be expedient and req- 
uifite for the States to delegate a large pro- 
portion of power to Congrefs, or not : yet 
it will be a part of my duty, and that of ev- 
ery true patriot, to affert, without referve, 
and to infift upon the following pofitions. 
That unlefs the States will fufFer Congrefs 
to exercife thofe prerogatives they are un- 
doubtedly invefted with by the conftitution, 
every thing muft very rapidly tend to an- 
archy and confulion, — That it is indifpenfi- 
ble to the happinefs of the individual States, 
that ther^ fhould be lodged, fomewhere, a 
fupreme power, to regulate and govern the 
general concerns of the confederated re- 
public, without which the union cannot be 
of long duration. — That there muft be a 

faithful and pointed compliance on the 
O 



1 58 Biographical Memoirs of 

part of every State, with the late propofals 
and demands of Congrefs, or the moft fatal 
confequences will enfue — That whatever 
meafures have a tendency to diffolve the u- 
nion, or contribute to violate or leffen the 
fovereign authority, ought to be confider- 
ed as hoftile to the liberty and independen- 
cy of America, and the authors of them 
treated accordingly. — And laftly, that unlefs 
we can be enabled by the concurrence ot 
the States to participate of the fruits of the 
revolution, and enjoy the effential benefits 
of civil fociety, under a form of govern- 
ment fo free and uncorrupted, fo happily 
guarded againft the danger of oppreflion, as 
has been devifed and adopted by the arti- 
cles of confederation, it will be a fubjed of 
regret, that fo much blood and treafure have 
been lavifhed for no purpofe ; that fo many 
fufferings have been encountered without a 
compenfation, and that fo many facrifices 
have been made in vain. Many other con- 
fiderations might here be adduced to prove, 
that without an entire conformity to the 
fpirit of the Union, we cannot exift as an 
independent power. It will be fufficient 



General George Wajhlngton. 159 

for my purpofe to mention but one or two, 
which feem to me of the great eft impor- 
tance. It is only in our united character, as 
an empire, that our independence is ac- 
knowledged that our power can be regard- 
ed, or our credit fupported am.ong foreign 
nations. The treaties of the European 
powers, with the United States of America, 
will have no validity on the diflblution of 
the Union. We Ihall be left nearly in a 
ftate of nature ; or we may find, by our 
own unhappy experience, that there is a 
natural and necelTary progreflion from the 
extreme of anarchy to the extreme of ty- 
ranny ; and that arbitrary power is moft ea- 
fily eftablilhed on the ruins of liberty abu- 
fed to licentiousnefs. 

As to the fecond article, which refpeds 
the performance of public juftice, Congrefs 
in their late Addrefs to the United States, 
almofl exhaufted the fubjed ; they have 
explained their ideas fo fully, and have en- 
forced the obligations the States are under 
to render complete juftice to all the public 
creditors, with fo much dignity and energy, 
that in my opinion, no real friend to the hon- 



1 60 Biographical Memoirs of 

or and independency of America can hefitate 
a fingle moment refpeding the propriety of 
complying With the juil: and honorable mea« 
fures propofed. If their arguments do not 
produce conviction, I know of nothing that 
will have greater influence, efpecially when 
we refled that the fyftem referred to, being 
the refult of the collected wifdom of the con- 
tinent, mud be efleemed, if not perfect, cer- 
tainly the leaft objectionable of any that 
could be devifed ; and that if it Ihould not 
be carried into immediate execution, a na- 
tional bankruptcy, with all its deplorable 
confequences, will take place, before any 
different plan can poffibly be propofed or 
adopted ; fo prefling are the prefent cir- 
cumiiances, and fuch is the alternative now 
offered to the States. 

'I he ability of the country to difcharge 
the debts which have been incurred in its 
defence, is not to be doubted. An inclina- 
tion, I flatter myfelf, will not be wanting ; 
the path of our duty is plain before us ; 
honefly will be found, on every experi- 
ment, to be the beft and only true policy. 
Let us then, as a nation, be jufl ; let us ful- 



General George Wqfhingim, 161 

fil the public contrafts which Congrefs had 
unduubtedly a right to make for the pur- 
pofe of carrying on the war, with the fame 
good faith we fuppofe ourfelves bound to 
perform our private engagements. In the 
mean time let an attention to the cheerful 
performance of their proper bufinefs, as in- 
dividuals, and as members of fociety, be 
earneftly inculcated on the citizens of A- 
merica ; then will they ftrengthen the bands 
of government, and be happy under its pro- 
tection. Every one will reap the fruit of 
his labors \ every one will enjoy his own 
acquilitions, without moleflation and with- 
out danger. 

In this ftate of abfolute freedom and per- 
feet fecurity, who will grudge to yield a 
very little of his property to fupport the 
common interefts of fociety, and enfure the 
protection of government ? Who does not 
remember the frequent declarations at the 
commencement of the war, that we fliould 
be completely fatisfied, if at the expence of 
one half, we could defend the remainder of 
our poffeffions ? Where is the man to be 
found, who wilhes to remain indebted for 

O 2 



162 Biogmphical Memoirs of 

the defence of his own perfon and property 
to the exertions, bravery, and the blood of 
others, without making one generous effort 
to pay the debt of honor and of gratitude ? 
In what part of the continent fhall we find 
any man, or body of men, who would not 
blufh to ftand up, and propofe meafures, 
purpofely calculated to rob the foldier of 
his flipend, and the public creditor of his 
due ? And were it poflible that fuch a fla- 
grant inflance of injuftice could ever hap- 
pen, would it not excite the general indig- 
nation, and tend to bring down, upon the 
authors of fuch meafures, the aggravated 
vengeance of Heaven ? If after all, a fpirit 
of difunion, or a temper of obflinacy and 
perverfenefs fliould manifeft itfelf in any of 
the States ; if fuch an ungracious difpofi- 
tion fhould attempt to fruflrate all the hap- 
py effects that might be expeded to flow 
from the union ; if there fhould be a refu- 
fal to comply with the requifitions for 
funds to difcharge the annual interefl of the 
public debts, and if that refufal fhould re- 
vive all thofe jealoufiesj and produce all 
thofe evils which are »^w happily removed 



General George Wajhingtoru 163 

— Congrefs, who have, in all their tran- 
fa<5i:ions, (hewn a great degree of magnan- 
imity and juftice, will ftand juftified in the 
light of God and man ! And that (late a- 
lone, which puts itfelf in oppofition to the 
aggregate wifdom of the continent, and fol- 
lows fuch miftaken and pernicious coufels, 
will be refponfible for all the confequences. 
For my own part, confcious of having 
acted, while a fervant of the public, in the 
manner I conceived befl fuited to promote 
the real interefts of my country ; having in 
confequence of my fixed belief, in fome 
me^fure, pledged myfelf to the army, that 
their country would finally do them com- 
plete and ample juftice, and not willing to 
conceal any inftance of my official condud 
from the eyes of the world, I have thought 
proper to tranfmit to your Excellency 
the enclofed collecllon of papers, relative 
to the half pay and commutation granted 
by Congrefs to the officers of the army : 
from thefe communications, my decided 
fentiment will be clearly comprehended, to- 
gether with the conclufive reafons, which 
induced me, at an early period, to recom- 



164 Biographical Memoirs of 

mend the adoption of this measure in the 
moft earneft and ferious manner. As the 
proceedings of Congrels, the army, and 
myfelf, are open to all, and contain in my 
opinion, fufficient information to remove 
the prejudice and errors which may have 
been entertained by any, I think it unnecef- 
fary to fay any thing more, than juft to ob- 
ferve, that the refolutions of Congrefs, now 
alluded to, are as undoubtedly and abfolute- 
ly binding upon the United States, as the 
moft folemn ad: of confederation or legif- 
lation. 

As to the idea, which, I am informed, 
has in fome inftances prevailed, that the 
half pay and commutation are to be regar- 
ded merely in the odious light of a penfion, 
it ought to be exploded forever : that pro- 
vifion fhould be viewed as it really was, a 
reafonable compenfation offered by Con- 
grefs, at a time when they had nothing elfe 
to give to of&cers of the army, for fervices 
then to be performed : it was the only 
means to prevent a total dereliction of the 
fervices ; it was a part of their hire. I may 
be allowed to fay, it was the price of their 



General George Wajhirigton, 1 Q5 

blood, and of your independency ; it is 
therefore more than a common debt, it is a 
debt of honor ; it can never be conlidered 
as a penfion or gratuity, nor cancelled until 
it is fairly difcharged. 

With regard to rhe diftincllon between 
officers and foldiers, it is fufficient that the 
uniform experience of every nation of the 
world, combined with our own, proves the 
utility and propriety of the difcrimination. 
Rewards in proportion to the aid the public 
draws from them, are unquellionably due 
to all its fervants. In fome lines the fol- 
diers have, perhaps, generally, bad as ample 
compenfation for their fervices, by the large 
bounties which have been paid them, as 
their officers will receive in the propofed 
commutation ; in others, if befides the do- 
nation of land, the payment of arrearages of 
clothing and wages (in which articles all the 
component parts of the army muft be put 
upon the fame footing) we take into the 
eftimate, the bounties many of the foldiers 
have received, and the gratuity of one 
year'a full pay, which is promifed to all, 
poffibiy their fituation (every circumftance 



1 66 Biographical Memoirs of 

being duly confidered) will not be deemed 
lefs eligible than that of the officers. 

Should a farther reward, however, be 
judged equitable, I will venture to affert, no 
man will enjoy greater fatisfaclion than my- 
felf, in an exemption from taxes for a Hm- 
ited time (which has been petitioned for in 
fome inftances) or any other adequate im- 
munity or compenfation granted to the 
brave defenders of their country's caufe : 
but neither the adoption or rejedion of this 
propofition will in any manner affecl, much 
lefs militate againil the ad of Congrefs, by 
which they have oifered five years full pay, 
in lieu of the half- pay for life, which have 
been before promifed to the officers of the 
army. 

Before I conclude the fubjecl on public 
juftice, I cannot omit to mention the obli- 
gations this country is under to that meri- 
torious clafs of veterans, the non-commif- 
fioned officers and privates, who have been 
difcharged for inability, in confequence of 
the refolution of Congrefs, of the 23d of 
April, 1782, on an annual penfion for life. 
Their peculiar fufferings, their fmgular 



Gen era! George Wajhlngion. 167 

merits and claims to that provifion need 
only to be known, to intereft the feelings 
of humanity in their behalf. Nothing but 
a pundual payment of their annual allow- 
ance can refcue them from the moft com- 
plicated mifery ; and nothing could be a 
more melancholy and diftreffing fight, than 
to behold thofe who have flied their blood, 
or loft their limbs in the fervice of their 
country, without a flielter, without a friend, 
and without the means of obtaining any of 
the comforts or neceffaries of life, compel- 
led to beg their daily bread from door to 
door. Suffer me to recommend thofe of 
this defcription belonging to your State, to 
the warmeft patronage of your Excellency 
and your legiflature. 

It is neceffary to fay but few words on 
the third topic which was propofed, and 
which regards particularly the defence of 
the republic. As there can be little doubt 
but Congrefs will recommend a proper 
peace eftablifhment for the United States, 
in which a due attention will be paid to the 
importance of placing the militia of the u- 
nion upon a regular and refpedable foot- 



168 Biographical Memoirs of 

ing ; If this fhould be the cafe, I fliould beg 
leave to urge the great advantage of it in the 
ftrongeft terms. 

The militia of this country muft be con- 
lidered as the palladium of our (ecurity, and 
the firft effectual refort in cafe of hoflility : 
it is elfential, therefore, that the fame fys- 
tem fliould pervade the whole ; that the 
formation and difcipline of the militia of 
the continent fhould be abfolutely uniform ; 
and that the fame fpecies of arms, accou- 
trements, and military apparatus, fhould 
be introduced into every part of the United 
States. No one, who has not learned it 
from experience, can conceive the diiEcul- 
ty, expenfe, and confufion which refult 
from a contrary fyflem, or the vague ar- 
rangements which have hitherto prevailed. 

If, in treating of political points, a great- 
er latitude than ufual has been taken in the 
courfe of the Addrefs, the importance of 
the crifis, and the magnitude of the objeds 
in difcuflion, mufl be my apology : It is 
however, neither my wifh nor expectation, 
that the preceding obfervations fhould 
claim any regard, except fo far as tliey fliall 



General George Wajhingion, 169 

appear to be didated by a good intention ; 
confonant to the immutable rules of juf- 
tice 5 calculated to produce a liberal fyftem 
of policy, and founded on whatever experi« 
ence may have been acquired by a long and 
clofe attention to public bufinefs. Here I 
might fpeak with more confidence, from 
myadual obfervations ; and if it would 
not fwell this letter (already too prolix) be- 
yond the bounds I had prefcribed to myfelf, 
I could demonftrate to every mind, open to 
convidion, that in lefs time, and with much 
lefs expenfe than has been incurred, the 
war might have been brought to the fame 
happy conclufion, if the refources of the 
continent could have been properly called 
forth; that the diftreffes and difappoint- 
ments which have very often occurred, 
have, in too many inflances, refulted more 
from a want of energy in the continental 
government, than a deficiency of means in 
the particular States : That the inefficacy of 
the meafures, arifing from the want of an 
adequate authority in the fupreme power, 
from a partial compliance with the requifi- 
lions of Congrefs in fome of the States, and 
P 



IVO Biographical Memoirs of 

from a failure of punduality in others, 
while they tended to damp the zeal of thofe 
who were more willing to exert them- 
felves, ferved alfo to accumulate the ex- 
penfes of the war, and to fruftrate the 
beft concerted plans ; and that the difcour- 
agement occalioned by the complicated dif- 
ficulties and embarraffments, in which our 
affairs were by this means involved, would 
have long ago produced the diffolution of 
an army, lefs patient, lefs virtuous, and lefs 
perfevering than that which I have had the 
honor to command. But while I mention 
thofe things, which are notorious fa&, as 
the defers of our Federal Conflitution, 
particularly in the profecution of a war, I 
beg it may be underftood, that as I have 
ever taken a pleafure in gratefully acknowl- 
edging the afliftance and fupp^^rt I have de- 
rived from every clafs of citizens; fo fhall 
I always be happy to do juflice to the un- 
paralleled exertions of the individual States, 
on many interefling occafions. 

I have thus freely difclofed what I wifhed 
to make known before I furrendered up my 
public truft to thofe who committed it to 



General George Wajhington, 1 7 1 

me : The tafk is now accompliflied. I now 
bid adieu to your Excellency, as the Chief 
Magiftrate of your State ; at the fame time 
I bid a laft farewell to the cares of office, 
and all the employments of public life. 

It remains, then, to be my final and only 
requeft, that your Excellency will commu- 
nicate thefe fentiments to your legiflature, 
at their next meeting ; and that they may 
be confidered as the legacy of one who has 
ardently wifhed, on all occafions, to be ufe- 
ful to his country, and who, even in the 
fliade of retirement, will not fail to implore 
the Divine benediction upon it. 

I now make it my earneft prayer, that 
God would have you, and the State over 
which you prefide, in his holy protection ; 
that he would incline the hearts of the citi- 
zens to cultivate a fpirit of fubordination 
and obedience to government ; to enter- 
tain a brotherly afFedion and love for one 
another, for their fellow citizens of the U- 
nited States at large ; and particularly for 
their brethren who have feived in the field ; 
and finally, that he would moft gracioufly 
be pleafed to difpofe us all to do juftce to 



172 Biographical Memoirs of 

love mercy, and to demean ourfelves with 
that charity, humility, and pacific temper 
of the mind, which were the charaderif- 
tics of the Divine author of our bleffed reli- 
gion ; without an humble imitation of 
whofe example in thefe things, we can ne- 
ver hope to be a happy nation. 

I have the honor to be, with much es- 
ileem and refped, Sir, your Excellency's 
moft obedient and moft humble fervant, 
G. WASHINGTON. 



General Wafliington having retired from 
all public employment, now allumed the 
charader of a private gentleman ; he em- 
ployed himfelf in improving his farms and 
plantation, and in cultivating the arts of 
peace. But in this retreat of happinefs and 
rural fimplicity, he w^as not fufFered long to 

remain ; it was too foon for ihQ father of A' 
mertca to leave his infant care, his well- tri- 
ed virtues were generally and juftly known 
to his fellow citizens, and their confidence 
in his judgment, experience and difinter- 
eded patriotism, was univerfal even to en- 
thufiafm. Four years had not expired from 



General George Wajhingion, 173 

the period at which he refigned his milita- 
ry^ command, when the voice of his coun- 
try again called him to its fervice — in the 
year 1787, he was elected a delegate to the 
federal convention which met at Philadel- 
phia to form the new Conftitution, and was 
chofen prefident thereof. — Whatever differ- 
ences of fentiment there might have been 
amongft the citizens with regard to the 
principle, ftrudure, or adoption of the new 
conftitution, there appeared but one fenti- 
ment as to the man who fliould fit at the 
helm of its adminiflration. General Wafh- 
ington, after the adoption of the federal 
conflitution, was, on the 6th of April, 1789, 
unanimoufly eleded Prefident of the United 
States — whereupon the citizens teflified 
with becoming joy, their confidence and 
approbation at his appointment to the office 
of chief magiflrate, and innumerable ad- 
dreffes reiterated his praife, from every 
part of the union. 

His triumphal entry into Philadelphia on 
his way to New- York, the feat of govern- 
ment, to afTume the duties of his important 
office, merit a minute defcription. Early 
P 2 



174 Biographical Memoirs of 

on the morning of the 20th of April, his 
Excellency Thomas Mifflin, Efq. governor 
of the State, the Hon. Richard Peters, Efq. 
Speaker of the legillature of the State, the 
old city troop of horfe, and another troop 
from the city, commanded by capt. Bing- 
ham, waited the arrival of their beloved 
Wajhington, at the line between the States of 
Pennfylvania and Delaware, to which place 
they had proceeded the evening before- 

After paying him the tribute of military 
honor due to his rank and exalted charac- 
ter, by proper falutes and otherwife, they 
efcorted him into Chefter, where they 
breakfafted, and refted a couple of hours. 

This great and worthy man, finding he 
could not poffibly elude the parade which 
neceffarily muft attend manifeftations of joy 
and afFedion, when difplayed by a grateful 
people, to their patriot benefactor, ordered 
his carriages in the rear of the whole line, 
and mounted an elegant horfe, accompani- 
ed by the venerable patriot, Charles 
Thompfon, Efq. and his former aid-de- 
camp, the celebrated Colonel Humphries 5 
both of whom werealfoon horfe back* 



General George Wajhington. 1*75 

On their way to the city, they were join- 
ed by detachments from the Chefter and 
Philadelphia troops of horfe, and alfo by a 
number of refpedlable citizens, at whofe 
head was the refpectable Arthur St. Clair, 
Efq. governor of the Weftern Territory. 
Thus they proceeded to Gray's ferry, on 
Schuylkill ; obferving the ftrideft order 
and regularity during the march. But here 
fuch a fcene prefented itfelf, that even the 
pencil of a Raphael could not delineate. 

The bridge was highly decorated with 
laurel and other evergreens, by Mr. Gray, 
the ingenious Mr. Peale, and others, and in 
fuch a ftyle as to difplay uncommon tafte 
in thefe gentlemen. At each end there 
were erecled magnificent arches, compofed 
of laurel, emblematical of the ancient tri- 
umphal arches, ufed by the Romans, and 
on each fide of the bridge, a laurel fhrub- 
bery, which feemed to challenge even na- 
ture herfelf, for fimplicity, eafe and ele- 
gance. And as our beloved Washington 
paffed the bridge, a lad, beautifully orna- 
mented with fprigs of laurel, affifted by a 
certain machinery, let drop, above the he- 



1^6 Biographical Mefnoirs of 

ro's head, unperceived by him, a civic 
crown of laurel. There was alfo a very ele- 
gant difplay of variegated flags on each fide 
of the bridge, as well as other places, which 
alternately caught the eye, and filled the 
fpedator's foul with admiration and de- 
light. 

But who can defcribe the heart-felt con- 
gratulations of mere than twenty thoufand 
free citizens, who lined every fence, field, 
and avenue between the bridge and the city ? 
the aged fire, the venerable matron, the 
blooming virgin, and the ruddy youth, 
were all emulous in their plaudits — nay, the 
lifping infant did not withhold its innocent 
fmile of praife and approbation. 

In fhort, all claflis and defcription of citi- 
zens difcovered, (and they felt what they 
difcovered) the m.oft undifguifed attach- 
ment and unbounded zeal for their dear 
chief, and I may add, under God, the Sa- 
viour of their country. Not all the pomp 
of majefty, not even imperial dignity itfelf, 
furrounded with its ufual fplendor and 
magnificence, could equal this interefting 
fcene. 



General George Wajhington. 177 

On approaching near the city, our illuf- 
trious chief was highly gratified with a fur-> 
ther military difplay of infantry, and artil- 
lery who joined in the procefiion, and thou- 
fands of freemen, whofe hearts burned with 
patriotic fire, alfo fell into the ranks, almoft 
every fquare they marched, until the col- 
umn fwelied beyond credibility itfelf, and 
having conducted the man of their hearts 
to the city tavern, he was introduced to a 
very grand and plentiful banquet, which 
was prepared for him by the citizens. At 
dinner, thirteen patriotic toads were drank. 
The pleafures and feftivity of the day being 
over, they were fucceeded by a handfome 
difplay of fire works in the evening y this 
may give a faint idea of the glorious pro- 
cefiion, and of the univerfal joy which in- 
fpired every heart upon this interetiing, 
this important occafion. 

Having arrived at the feat of govern- 
ment he delivered the following inaugural 
addrels to both houfes of Congrefs, viz. 



178 Biographical Memoirs of 

Inaugural Addrefs of the Prefident of the Uni' 
ted States to both Houfes of^Qmgrefs, 

GENTLEMEN, 

" Among the viciflitudes incident to 
life, no event could have filled me with 
greater anxieties, than that, of which the 
notification was tranfmitted by your order, 
and received on the fourteenth day of the 
prefent months on the one hand, I was 
fummoned by my country whofe voice I 
can never hear but with veneration and 
love, from a retreat which I had chofen 
with the fondeft predeliction, and, in my 
flattering hopes, with an immutable decif- 
ion, as the afylum of my declining years : 
a retreat w-hich was rendered every day 
more neceffary, as well as more dear to me 
by the addition of habit to inclination, and 
of frequent interruptions in health, to the 
gradual wafte committed on it by time. On 
the other hand, the magnitude and difficul- 
ties of the truft, to which the voice of my 
country called me, being fufficient to awa- 
ken in the wifeft and moft experienced of 
her citizens, a diftruilful fcrutiny into his 



General George Wajh'mgion. 179 

qualifications, could not but ovprwhelm 
with defpondence, one, who, inheriting in- 
ferior endowments from nature, and un- 
pra<^ifed in the duties of civil adminiftra- 
tion, ought to be peculiarly confcious of his 
own deficiences. In this confliift of emo- 
tions, all I dare aver, is that it has been my 
faithful ftudy to collect my duty from a juft 
appreciation of every circumftance, by 
which it might be aifedled. All I dare 
hope, is that if, in executing this tafk, I 
have been too much fwayed by a grateful 
remembrance of former inftances, or by 
an afFedionate fenfibility of this tranfcen- 
dant proof of the confidence of my fellow 
citizens — and have thence too little con- 
fulted my incapacity as well as difincli- 
nation for the weighty and untried cares 
before me — my error will be palliated by 
the motives which miilead me, and its con- 
fequences be judged by my country, with 
fome fiiare of the partiality in which they 
originated. 

" Such being the impreffions under which 
I have, in obedience to the public fummons, 



180 Biographical Memoirs of 

repaired to the prefent flation — it would 
be peculiarly improper to omit in the firft 
official adl, my fervent fupplications to that 
Almighty Being who rules over the uni- 
verfe, who prefides in the councils of na- 
tions — and whofe providential aids can 
fupply every human defect, that his bene- 
diction may confecrate to the liberties and 
happinefs of the people of the United 
States, a government inftituted by them- 
felves for their effential purpofes : and may- 
enable every inftrument, employed in its 
adminiftration, to execute with fuccefs the 
functions allotted to his charge. Tn ten- 
dering this homage to the great Author of 
every public and private good, I aflure my- 
felf that it expreffes your fentiments not 
lefs than my own, nor thofe of my fellow 
citizens at large, lefs than either. No peo- 
ple can be bound to acknowledge and ad- 
ore the invifible hand, which conduds the 
affairs of men, more than the people of the 
United States. Every ftep, by which they 
have advanced to the character of an inde- 
pendent nation, feems to have been diftin- 
guiflied by fome tokens of providential a- 



General George Wajhington. 181 

gency. And in the Important revolution 
jull accomplifhed in the fyflem of their U- 
nited government, the tranquil delibera- 
tions and voluntary confent of fo many dif- 
tind communities, from which the event 
has refulted, cannot be compared with the 
means by which moft governments have 
been eftablifhed, without fome return of pi- 
ous gratitude, along with an humble antl- 
cipation of the future bleffings which the 
paft feem to prefage. Thefe reflections, a- 
rifing out of the prefent crifis, have forced 
themfelves too ftrongly on my mind to be 
fupprefled. You will join me, I trull, in 
thinking, that there are none under the in- 
fluence of which the proceedings of a new 
and free government can more aufpicioufly 
commence. 

" By the article eftablifliing the execu- 
tive department, it is made the duty of the 
Prefident " to recommend to your confid- 
eration fuch meafures as he fliall judge ne- 
ceflary and expedient." The circumflances 
under which I now meet you, will acquit 
tne from entering into that fubjed, farther 
tlian to refer to the great conftitutional 



182 Biographical Memoirs of 

charter under which you are now affem- 
bled ; and which in defining your powers, 
defignates the objeds to which your atten- 
tion is to be given. It will be more confift- 
entj with thofe circumftances, and far more 
congenial with the feelings which actuate 
me, to fubftitute in place of a recommenda- 
tion of particular meafuies, the tribute that 
is due to the talents, the reditude, and the 
patriotifm which adorn the characters fe- 
le6ted to devife and to adopt them. In 
thefe qualifications, I behold the fureft 
pledges, that as, on one fide, no local preju- 
dices or attachments— no feparate views— | 
nor party animofities, will mis-dired the 
comprehenfive and equal eye which ought 
to watch over this great affemblage of com- 
munities and interefts : fo, on another, that 
the foundations of our national policy will 
be laid in the pure and immutable princi- 
ples of private morality ; and the pre-emi- 
nence of|free government,be exemplified by 
all the attributes which can win the affec- 
tions of its citizens, and command the re- 
fped of the world. I dwell on this prof- 
peCtwith every fatisfaftion which an ar- 



General George Wajhington. 1 83 

dent love for my country can infpire ; fince 
there is no truth nriore thoroughly eftablifti- 
ed, than that there exifts in the economy 
and courfe of nature, an indiffoluble union 
between virtue and happinefs, between du- 
ty and advantage, between the genuine 
maxims of an honeft and magnanimous pol- 
icy, and the folid rewards of public prof- . 
perity and felicity : fince we ought to be 
no lefs perfuaded, that the propitious fmiles 
of Heaven can never be expected on a na- 
tion that difregards the eternal rules of or- 
der and right, which Heaven itfelf hath or- 
dained j and lince the prefervation of the 
facred fire of liberty, and the deftiny of the 
republican model of government, are juftly 
confidered as deeply, perhaps as finally fla- 
ked, on the experiment entrufted to the 
hands of the American people. 

" Befides the ordinary objeds fubmitted 
to your care, it will remain with yourjudg. 
ment to decide how far an exercife of the 
occafional power delegated by the fifth ar- 
ticle of the conftitution is rendered expe- 
dient at the prefent juncture, by the nature 
of objedions which have been urged a- 



184 Biographical Memoirs of 

gainft the fyftem, or by the degree of in- 
quietude which has given birth to them. 
Inflead of undertaking particular recom- 
mendations on this fubjecl, in which I 
could be guided by no lights derived from 
official opportunities, I Ihall again give 
way to my entire confidence in your dif- 
cernment and purfuit of the public good 5 
for I alTure myfelf that whilft you carefully 
avoid every altercation which might en- 
danger the benefits of an united and effec- 
tive government, or which ought to await 
the future lefTons of experience ; a reve- 
rence for the chara£reriflic rights of free- 
men, and a regard for the public harmony, 
will fufficiently influence your deliberations 
on the queflion, how far the former can be 
more impregnably fortified, or the latter be 
fafely and advantageoufly promoted. 

" To the preceding obfervations, I have 
one to add, which will be mofl properly 
addrefTed to the Houfe of Reprefentatives. 
It concerns myfelf, and therefore will be as 
brief as poilible. "When I was firfl honor- 
ed with a call into the fervice of my coun? 
try, then on the eve of an arduous ftrug- 



General George Wajhingion. 185 

gle for its liberties, the light in which I con- 
templated my duty, required that I fliould 
renounce every pecuniary compenfation. 
From this refolution I have in no inftance 
departed. And being ftill under the im-. 
preffions which produced it, I nmft decline, 
as inapplicable to myfelf, any ihare in the 
perfonal emoluments, which may be indif- 
penfably included in a permanent provifion 
for the executive department ; and muft 
accordingly pray that the pecuniary efti- 
mates for the ftation in which I am placed, 
may, during my continuance in it, be limit- 
ed to fuch adtual expenditures as the pub- 
lic good may be thought to require. 

" Having thus imparted to you my fen- 
timents, as they have been awakened by 
the occaiion which brings us together, I 
fliall take my prefent leave ; but not with- 
out reforting once more to the benign Par- 
ent of the human race, in humble fupplica- 
tion, that fince he has been pleafed to favor 
the American people, with opportunities 
for deliberating in perfedl: tranquillity, and 
difpoiitions for deciding with unparalleled 
unanimity on a form of government, for 
Q 2 



186 Biographical Memoirs of 

the fecurity of their union, and the ad- 
vancement of their happinefs ; fo his divine 
blefling may be equally confpicuous in the 
enlarged views, the temperate confulta- 
tions, and the wife meafures on which the 
fuccefs of this government muft depend. 
G. WASHINGTON/' 



The firft feffion of Congrefs, under the 
new conftitutlon, continued their fittings 
from the 4th of March until the 39th of 
September, their attention was chiefly di- 
rected towards the eftablifhment of various 
regulations for the reftoration,of the public 
credit of the United States, and other ob- 
jeds of political economy. During the pe- 
riod of the feffion, the Prefident refided at 
New- York, fanctioning the proceedings of 
the legiflature, and otherwife organizing 
the federal government. Shortly after the 
rifing of C(;ngrefs he made a tour to the 
ftates of Connedicut, Maifichufetts and 
New-Hampftiire, attended by Meffis. Lear 
and Jackfon, his fecretaries. In every part 
of the country through which he pafled, 



General George Wajhington. 18? 

the citizens embraced the opportunity of 
perfonally teftifying their efteem and refpe^ 
of the 7nan of their choice^ in whofe charadl- 
er, whatever is great and good — whatever 
dignifies and adorns human nature, are fo 
happily united. All that a grateful people 
could pay, was paid, whenever he approach- 
ed a town or village, the roads were lined 
with citizens to hail him welcome — the 
military efcorted him from place to place. 
Particularly to relate all the grateful teftimo- 
nials which were paid him during this viiit, 
is impoflible from their number. If our lim- 
its would permit, a defcription of the man- 
ner in which he was received at Bofton 
would be particularly interefting ; nor can 
we fpecify the numerous congratulatory 
addrefles which were prefented him. But 
no particular circumftance gave him more 
pleafure, during his whole tour, than the 
plain and hearty manner in which Mr. 
Northey, the chairman of the feledmen at 
Salem received him. This gentleman is of 
the fociety of Friends and when the Prefi- 
dent was prefented to the feledmen, Mr. 
Northey, being covered, took him by the 



18S Biographical Memoirs of 

hand, faid, "Friend Wafliington, we are 
glad to fee thee, and in behalf of the inhab- 
itants, bid thee a hearty welcome to Sa- 
lem." 

On his arrival at Newbury port, the fol- 
lowing incident occurred, a poor old fol- 
dier named Cotton, who was with him in 
the memorable battle on the Ohio, when 
Braddock was defeated, requefted and was 
admitted into the room where the Prefi- 
dent was — on the foldier's afkins^ " how Ma* 
jor Waflmigion did?** the Prefident immedi- 
ately recollected his perfon, and rifing from 
his chair, took him by the hand, and ten- 
derly enquired into the fcenes of his life, 
and prefent circumftances, " I thank God,'* 
anfwered the foldier, " that I have an oppor- 
tunity of feeing my old commander once 
more, I have feen him in adverfity, and 
now feeing him in glory, I can go home 
and die contented^" The next morning, 
he came to take leave of the Prefident, who 
gave him a guinea, which he accepted, he 
faid, " merely as a token in remembrance 
of his commander," and which he wore 
pendent on his bofom, declaring that noth- 
ing earthly fliould feparate it from him. 



General George Wajhington, 189 

While General Wafliington was Prefi- 
dent of the United States, the following 
circumftance which does honor to his hu- 
manity occurred. One Reuben Rouzy, of 
Virginia, owed him a thoufand pounds ; 
one of the Prefident's agents brought a fuit 
for the money, judgment was obtained, and 
execution iffued againft the body of the de- 
fendant, who was taken to goal. He had 
a conliderable landed property, but this 
kind of property cannot be fold in Virgin- 
ia for debts, unlefs at the difcretion of the 
perfon. He had a large family, and pre- 
ferred lying in goal to felling his lands, for 
the fake of his children. — Some of his ac- 
quaintance hinted to him that probably 
general Wafhington did not know any 
thing of the proceeding, and it might be 
well to fend him a petition, with a flate- 
ment of the circumftances. He did fo, and 
the very next poll from Philadelphia, after 
his petition arrived, brought him a releafe- 
ment, with a fevere reprimand on the agent 
for acting in fuch a cruel manner, without 
confent. Poor Rouzy was, in confequence, 
refiored to his family and happinefs, who 



190 Biographical Memoirs of 

never laid down their heads at night, with- 
out offering their prayers to Heaven for 
our fnuch beloved Washington. 

On the 4th day of January, 1790, Con- 
grefs held their fecond feflion at New- 
York. The Prefident opened it with a 
fpeech ; he congratulated them on the fa- 
vorable profpecls which the public affairs 
then affumed ; the accefTion of the Hate of 
North Carolina to the Union, the rifing 
credit and refpectability of the country, 
and the concord, peace and plenty with 
which they were bleffed : he directed their 
attention towards the making provifion for 
the common defence, affuring them that 
" to be prepared for war, is one of the moft 
efFeclual means of preferving peace, and 
that a free people ought not only to be ar- 
med but difciplined ;'' he recommended 
the protection of the Weftern and Souihern 
frontiers againft the depredations of the 
hoflile Indians ; the eftabiifhment of inter- 
courfe with other nations ; the framing of 
an uniform law for the naturalization of 
foreigners ; the importance of uniformity 
in the currency, weights and meafures 



General George Wajhingfon* I9i 

throughout the Union; the advancement 
of agriculture, commerce, and manufact- 
ures ; the encouragement of exertions of 
Ikill, and genius, and to facilitate the inter- 
courfe between the diflant parts of the 
country, by a due attention to the poft-of- 
lice and poft-roads. He particularly recom- 
mended the promotion of fcience and liter- 
ature, as the fureft bafis of public happinefs, 
and beft means of fecuring a free conftitu- 
tion, by teaching the people to know and 
to value their rights, to difcern and provide 
againft innovations of them, to diflinguifh 
between oppreflion and the neceffary exer- 
cife of lawful authority, to difcriminate the 
fpirit of liberty from that of licentioufnefs, 
cherifliing the firft, avoiding the laft, and 
uniting a fpeedy but temperate vigilance a- 
gainft encroachments, with an inviolable re- 
fped to the laws. He informed them that 
he had direded the papers and eftimates to 
be laid before them, which were neceflary 
-to convey to them, that information of the 
Union, which it was his duty to afford. 
He concluded by affuring them, that " He 
fhould derive great fatisfaclion, from a co- 



192 Biographical Memoirs of 

operation with them, in the pleafing, 
though arduous tafk, of enfuring to their 
fellow citizens the bleffings which they have 
a right to expeft from a free, efficient gov- 
ernment." 

This feflion continued their fittings until 
the 12th of Auguft following 5 in that 
month the Prefident negociated a treaty of 
peace and friendfhip between the United 
States and the Creek nation of Indians : 
the ceremony took place at New- York, on 
the 30th September. The fame year Gen. 
Harmar, with 320 United States troops and 
1183 militia, gave battle to the Miami In- 
dians, by whom he was defeated, with the 
lofs of 183 m.en killed, and S) wounded ; 
about 100 or upwards of the Indians were 
killed. The Miami village, containing a- 
bout 100 log houfes, or wigwams, with 
20,000 bufhels of corn was deftroyed. 

The third feffion of Congrefs met on the 
6th of December, 1 790, and rofe on the 3d 
of March following; their deliberations 
were chiefly directed towards the regula- 
tion of commerce, further improvement of 
the judicial fyftem, and making provifion 



General George Wajhingion. 193 

for the appointment of confuls in foreign 
countries. The ftate of Kentucky was ad- 
mitted into the Union as a diftin6l: State, 
and a loan was negotiated with the ftates 
of Holland. 

The Indian war continued on the fron- 
tier of the ftates. During the fummer of 
1791, General Scott furprifed the Wabafli 
towns ; he killed about 30 Indians, took 
50 prifoners, and brought with him 200 
horfes, loaded with peltry and other arti- 
cles of plunder, with the lofs of 3 men on- 
ly. The attention of the Prelident during 
the period of this Congrefs, was chiefly di- 
rected towards the adoption of meafures 
for the protedion of the frontiers, and ef- 
tablifliment of commerce. 

On the 24th of October, 1791, the fecond 
Congrefs commenced their firft feffion : 
the Prefident, as ufual, opened the feffion 
by a fpeech to both houfes ; he began by 
remarking the abundance of the preceding 
harveft, the progre'Iive ftate of agriculture, 
manufactures, commerce and navigation, 
and the general and happy effects which 
had been produced by the revival of public 
R 



l94 Biographical Memoirs of 

and private confidence, to which the laws 
of the United States had fo eminently con- 
tributed. He mentioned the plan laid 
down for conciliating the friendfhip of the 
Indians ; the bafis of which was a ftricl ad- 
herance to the dictates of juftice and hu- 
manity. The act of laying a. duty on dif- 
tilled fpirits, had been, he faid, attended 
with foine difficulty, from the want of ex- 
perience in the federal government, to 
make the proper arrangements, and, in fome 
parts of the union, there had been a mif- 
conception of !ts provifions ; but he enter- 
tained no doubt that the difcontent produ- 
ced from it would be removed by a proper 
explanation of the law. The Prelident 
next obferved, that, agree?Jole to feveral 
ads on that fubjed, a diftridl of ten miles 
fquare, for the permanent feat of the gov- 
ernment of the United States, had been fix- 
ed upon and announced by proclamation ; 
th^t the diftriA comprehended lands on 
both fides of the Potomac, and the towns 
of Alexandria and Georgetown ; that a city 
had accordingly been laid out, and that 
there was every reafon to expe(5t a due 



General George Wajhington. 195 

progrefs in the buildings. — He alfo inform- 
ed the two houfes that a cenfus of the in- 
habitants of the United States, had been 
almoft completed, and afforded the pleaf- 
ing aifurance that the prefent population 
bordered upon four millions of perfons ; 
that a further loan of two millions and an 
half of florins had been completed in Hol- 
land, upon terms limilar to the laft, and 
that another loan for fix millions of florins 
had been fet on foot. He concluded by 
recommending to their particular attention, 
the fupporting of the militia'on an effective 
plan : the adminiflration of the poll of- 
fice, the extenfion and improvements of 
the pofi- roads, the neceflity for a public 
mint, an uniformity of weights and meaf- 
ures, and a provifion for the fale of the va- 
cant lands of the United States. 

This feflion continued their deliberations 
until the 8th of May, 1792, when they ad- 
journed till the firfl Monday of November 
following. During their feflion and ad- 
journment, there was no remarkable or 
important event ; a feries of maffacres, 
were, as formerly, committed on the fron- 



196 Biographical Memoirs of 

tiers ; the hopes expreffed by the Prefident 
of being able to accommodote the difputes 
with the Indians, did not prove fuccefsful. 
On the 4th of November, 1791, the Uni- 
ted States army, under the command of 
General St. Clair, was attacked by furprife, 
within fifteen miles of the Miami village ; 
the conteft lafted for four hours, when the 
Indians became victorious, the retreat of 
the Americans v/as accomplifhed with the 
lofs of 46 officers, j600 privates, eight pie- 
ces of artillery and their whole baggage. 
In this battle it is faid that 1200 Canadians 
fought under the difguife of Indians. The 
attention of the Executive, during this pe« 
riod, was alfo engaged in deviling modes 
to reconcile the citizens, in fome diftricis 
of the union, to the law, enabled for the 
purpofe of colleding a certain duty on 
fpirits, diflilled within the United States, 
in fome of the flates, particularly the weft- 
ern parts of Pennfylvania, where a regular 
and formidable oppofition began to mani- 
fefl itfeif, in confequence of which the fpe- 
cialinterpofition of the Prefident was deem- 
ed advifable. He ifTued a proclamation 



General George Wajhington. J 97 

recommending a compliance with the laws, 
and warning the citizens againft all unlaw- 
ful proceedings and combinations, having 
a tendency to obftrud the fame. 

The fecond Congrefs met again in No- 
vember, 1792. The Prefident opened the 
feflion with a fpeech, the greatell part of 
which refpeded the unfortunate endeavors 
to terminate the Indian hoftilities. He in- 
formed Congrefs of the oppofition which 
had been manifefted to the excife law, and 
recommended a revifion of the judiciary 
fyftem. He further obferved that three 
loans had been negociated for the ufe of the 
United States, one at Antwerp, and two at 
Amfterdam, each for three miUions of flo- 
rins, on very reafonable terms, which affor- 
ded a pleafing evidence of the increafing 
credit of the new government. On the 2d 
of March 1793, this feflion adjourned. 

Heretofore the profperity of the United 
States met with httle or no interruption, 
except from the hoftilities of the Indians. 
The attention of the Executive was chiefly 
directed to the eftablifliment of thofe mea- 
fures which the organization of the infant 
R 2 



198 Biographical Memoirs of 

republic rendered neceffary. The exten. 
fion of commerce and the difputes of the 
European powers, rendered it neceflliry for 
the United States to fend and receive min- 
ifters and agents, for the better regulation 
of affairs. 

This neceffary meafure created troubles 
and perplexities hitherto unknown to the 
Executive of the United States. On the 
8th of April, 1793, citizen Genet arrived at 
Charlefton, as minifter plenipotentiary from 
the Executive of France to the Preiident of 
the United States. On the 22d of the fame 
month the Prefident iffued a proclamation 
enjoining the citizens of the United States 
to a ttrid: neutrality, in the conteft between 
the maritime powers, and threatening prof, 
ecution to aJ who fhould infringe the fame. 
— The public approbation of this wile mea- 
fure, for the prefervation of the public 
tranquility, vwas manifefted in numerous 
aadreffes to the Prefident, thanking him in 
warm terms for his attention to the intereft 
of the citizens ; many, however were of- 
fended at the meafure, as they conceived 
that it implied a deficiency of refpect and 



General George Wajhington, 199 

gratitude to the republic of France, to 
whom the United States were highly in- 
debted for their independence. Genet ar- 
rived at Philadelphia, the feat of Govern- 
ment, on the 17th of May. The conduct 
of this minifter is, perhaps, unexampled in 
diplomatic hidory. It was not until the 
publication of the Proclamation of the Pre. 
fident enjoining neutrality, that the gov- 
ernment firft heard of his arrival, and even 
then, they were only informed through the 
medium of the news-papers, about a fort- 
night after his arrival ; inftead of prefent- 
ing his credentials to the Prefident, he be- 
gan to alTume a conduct imprudent and un- 
becoming ; he undertook to authorize the 
fitting out of armed veflels, he enlifled citi- 
zens and others, and gave commifTions to 
cruife and commit hoftilities againft the vef- 
fels of England and other nations at war 
with Fiance, but who were, at the 
fame time, at peace with the United States. 
Thefe veffeis had aclually taken prizes, 
brouglit them into American ports, where 
theconfuls of France held courts of Admi- 
ralty, tried, condemned; and authorized 



200 Biographical Memoirs of 

their fale as legal prizes. Thefe proceed- 
iiigs, in oppolition to the peace of" the Uni- 
ted States, were inllantly con- plained of by 
Mr. Hammond, the Britiih minilter ; thus 
were the feeds of future contnwerfy plant* 
ed The government of the United States 
interfered, and, in fome cafes, over- ruled 
the proceedings of both the Britiih and 
French, as illegal ; remonflrances were ex- 
hibited to the Prefident, from both fides, 
which created a feries of diplomatic corref- 
pondence. A new fource of difcontent, on 
the part of the French, now arofe ; Genet 
demanded, with fome abruptnefs, money 
from the treafury of the United States, in 
part payment of their debt to France, with 
which the American government found it 
inconvenient to comply. This ftate of di- 
plomatic hoftility could not be expeded to 
hold out long without coming to a crifis. 
Accordingly, on the 16th of Auguft, the 
Prefident ordered Mr. XefFerfon, the Secre- 
tary of State, to addrefs a letter to Mr. 
Morris the American ambaflador in France, 
foliciting the republic to recal their minif- 
ter. In the mean time Citizen Duplaine, 



General George Wqfhington. 201 

Vice conful for the republic of France, in 
the port of Bofton, having committed fun- 
dry encroachments on the laws of the Uni- 
ted States, the Prefident, in confequence 
thereof, fufpended his powers. 

The term for which general Wafliington 
was eleded Prefident, having expired, he 
was again re-elecled to the fame office. On 
the 2d of December, 1793, the third Con- 
grefs commenced their firft feffion. The 
Prefident, in his fpeech to both houfes, ex- 
prefled a refpeclful fenfe of the confidence 
that he enjoyed, in being again called, by^ 
the fufFrage of his fellow-citizens, to the of- 
fice of chief magiftrate. He recited the 
meafures which he had adopted to avoid a 
rupture with any of the powers at war, an^ 
to enfure to the citizens of the United 
States, the rights of neutrality. He further 
recommended to Congrefs, the necefilty of 
placing the country in a fiate of defence ; 
that v/hile the United States fulfilled their 
duties to the refl: of the world, they may 
likewife exact the fulfilment, of the like du- 
ties towards them. He informed them of 
the means which had been purfued for con- 



202 BiograpJjical Memoirs of 

ciliating the dirpofitions of the Indians, and 
recommended to Congrefs to make provif- 
ion for the eftabliflinjent of coriimerce with 
the Indian nations, as the beft m^ans of fe- 
curing their intereft, and rendering their 
tranquility permanent ; he conclnded by- 
recommending a repeal of the tax on the 
tranfportation of public prints, as they con- 
tained the beft means of informing the 
minds, and fecuring the affedions of their 
conftituents : he afterwards, by a fpecial 
mt;irige, informed the Houfe of Reprefent- 
atives, " that although the government of 
the French nation, had generally manifelled 
a friendly uifpofition to the United States, 
yet the perfon unfortunately appointed 
their minilter plenipotentiary, had breath- 
ed nothing of the friendly diipofition of the 
nation which fent him ; his proceedings 
had uniformly tended to involve us in a 
war abroad, and difcord and anarchy at 
home." He hoped that the French gov- 
ernment would not long fufFer the United 
States to remain expofed to the acljon of a 
perfon, who had fo little refpc6led the mu- 
tual difpofitions of the two countries. 



General George Wajhington. 20S 

Soon ofter this period, the minifter was 
recalled, his coududt having been unequiv. 
ocally difapproved of. About this period 
the commerce of the United States began 
to fufFer greatly, from the depredations of 
the Britifh, under pretence of their being 
loaded with French property ; it alfo fuf- 
fered from the piracy of privateers, who, 
for the mod part, difclaiming juftice alto- 
gether, feized both veffels and cargo, and 
difpofed of the fame for their own ufe ; a 
confiderable number of American vefTels 
were likewife captured in the Weftern O- 
cean by the Algerine corfairs. Thefe fub- 
jects were affumed by Congrefs, and many 
modes were propofed for the purpofe of 
putting a (lop to the unwarrantable excef- 
fes. A bill was paiTed, to provide a naval 
armament againft the Algerines. On the 
25th of March, a motion was made in the 
Houfe of Reprefentatives, affented to by 
the Senate, and figned by the Prefi fent, 
laying an embargo for 30 days on all vef- 
fels bound to foreign ports ; this embargo 
was afterwards continued until tlie 2.5th of 
May. The Preiident was empowered to 



204 Biographical Memoirs of 

raife an additional corps of artillery men, 
for the purpofe of garrifoning the fortifica- 
tions for the defence of the fea-coafts : he 
was alfo authorized to call on the execu- 
tives of the different ftates, to take effed- 
ual meafures for organizing 60,000 effedt- 
ive militia. 

On the 19th of May, intelligence was re- 
ceived from the territory N. W. of the ri- 
ver Ohio, ftating the hardfhips which the 
citizens of that territory fuftained from the 
hoflile difpofition of the Cherokee Indians ; 
the maffacre of 200 people, and the lofs of 
2000 horfes, formed a part of the lift of 
their difafters. On the 20th of May, the 
Prefident by a mefiage, informed the Houfe 
of Reprefentatives, that there had been 
fome danger of hoftilities againft the terri- 
tories of Spain, in the neighborhood of the 
United States ; that the governor of Ken- 
tucky had indicated that he would make 
no exertions to prevent the e^^pulfion of the 
Spaniards from the banks of the Miffiflippi, 
as he had found them a perfidious and 
worthlefs people, conftantly exciting the In- 
dians to murder the fettle in that quarter. 



General George Wqfhington. 205 

During this feiEon of Congrefs, many im- 
portant laws were enaded. The a<^ affign- 
ing to the Marquis de la Fayette, the fum 
of 24,424 dollars, for his fervices, during 
the war, being the pay of a major-general 5 
and the ad forbidding American citizens, 
or foreigners, reliding in the United States, 
under fevere penalties, from being concern- 
ed in the flave trade, does great honor to 
the legillature — On the 9th of June, 1794, 
this feffion adjourned. 

In 1794, during the recefs of Congrefs, 
the attention of the Prefident of the United 
States was called to fupprefs an infurrec- 
tion, which began to affume a very formi- 
dable afped. It was confined to the Weft- 
ern parts of the State of Pennfylvania. 
The outlines of it are as follows, viz. Dur- 
ing the year 1790, the Congrefs of the U- 
nited States found it neceflary " to lay and 
colled excifes.'* This mode of taxation, 
difcordant to the genius of the citizens, in 
many parts of the union, met with confid- 
erable oppolition, which, however, was 
gradually banifhed by reafon and patriot- 
ifm, excepting the four weftern counties of 
S 



206 Biographical Memoirs of 

Pennfylvania, where a prejudice llill remain 
ed, and produced fymptonis of riot and vio- 
lence. The difafFedion was at firft vented 
in general complaints ; certain affociations 
w^ere formed to prevent the operation of 
the laws, and . the excife officers received 
feme marks of contempt and rudenefs, 
Thefe affociations held public meetings, and 
publiihed their refolutions. Belides the 
excife law, they cenfured feveral other ads 
of the federal government ; as the exorbit- 
ant falaries of office, the inftitution of a na- 
tional bank, the interell of the public debt, 
&c. 

On the 6th of September, 1791, the col- 
ledor of the revenue for that diftrict, was 
feized by a party, armed, and in difguife ; 
they tarred and feathered him, cut off his 
hair and committed other ads of violence ; 
legal procefs w^as therefore iffued againft 
the offenders, but the infurgents prevented 
the marflial from ferving them ; they fired 
upon him, arretted, and, for fome time, de- 
tained him as a prifoner ; a number of fim- 
ilar outrages were committed. The Prefi- 
dent, the ever watchful guardian of the 



General George Wajhingion. 207 

conftltution, beheld, with forrow, thefe ex- 
ceffes ; he fought and weighed what was 
beft to be done in this momentous criiis ; 
he beheld the judiciary ftripped of its capa- 
city to enforce the laws, and crimes, which 
reached to the very exiftence of focial or- 
der, perpetrated without control ; the 
friends of government infulted, and that 
conftitution violated, which he had made a 
facred vow to protect ; he beheld with ab- 
horrence, the idea of " arraying citizen a- 
gainft citizen,'* until every lenient meafure 
fhould be exhaufled. He ilTued proclama- 
tions, exhorting the rioters to defift from 
fuch diforderly proceedings, he recommen- 
ded obedience to the laws, he appointed 
commiflioners to repair to the fcene of in- 
furreclion, authorized them to confer with 
the infurgents, to flate to them his fenfa- 
tions, to ailure them that it was his earneft 
wiili to avoid a refort to coercion 5 he even 
offered them pardon, on condition of re- 
ceiving fatisfaclory affurance, of obedience 
to the laws. 

Thefe lenient meafures did not produce 
the good effeds that Ihould have been ex- 



208 Biographical Memoirs of 

peeled. The Prefident therefore deemed it 
prudent to refort to military force — Fifteen 
thoufand militia were put in motion, their 
number intimidated the infurgents; thus 
the infurredion was quelled without the ef- 
fulion of blood ; lome of the ringleaders 
were apprehended and brought to trial ; 
one of them was found guilty of high trea- 
fon and condemned to fufFer, but was par- 
doned by the Prefident. — Indeed the fame 
goodnefs of difpofition actuated the Prefi. 
dent from the beginning to the termin- 
ation of this licentious invafion of the laws, 
notwithflanding there are in the United 
States, certain difcontented, invidious indi- 
viduals, who wiih to fligmatize every a6^ 
of the Executive, with opprobium 

In November, 1794, the third Congrefs 
held their fecond feflion, at Philadelphia. 
The Prefident began his fpeech with a hifl- 
ory of the oppofition which had been man- 
ifefled to the conftitution and laws of the 
United States, and of the means which he 
had purfued to fupprefs it ; the alacrity 
which the militia, and others who volun- 
teered their fervice difplayed, exhibited, he 



General George Wajhington. 209 

faid, " to the higheft advantage, the value 
of republican government ; to behold the 
moft and leaft wealthy of our citizens, Han- 
ding in the fame ranks as private foidiers, 
pre-eminently diftinguifhed by being the 
army of the conftitution ; undeterred by a 
march of three hundred miles, over rugged 
mountains, by the approach of an inclem- 
ent feafon, or by any other difcourage- 
ment." He recommended to Congrefs to 
re-imburfe the officers of government and 
other citizens, who had fuilained loffes, for 
their generous exertions for upholding the 
conftitution and laws, " the amount," he 
faid, " would not be great j and on future 
emergencies, the government would be am- 
ply repaid by the influence of an example, 
that he who incurs a lofs in its defence, 
fliall find a recompenfe in its liberality."— 
The intelligence from the army of General 
Wayne, ading againft the hoftile Indians 
N. W. of the Ohio, he faid, afforded a hap- 
py j)refage to the military operations, that 
they had damped the ardor and obflinacy 
' of the favages. — Yet although the power of 
the United States to punifli them, could 

S 2 



210 Biographical Memoirs of 

not be queftioned, that he 's^as not unwil- 
ling to cement a lading peace, upon terms 
of equity and good neighborhood 5 he re- 
commended the adoption of a definitive 
plan for the redemption of the public debt, 
and in fubfequent communications he 
tranfmitted to them, certain papers relative 
to the intercourfe of the United States, with 
foreign nations ; they announced to Con- 
grefs and to the world, his unremitting ex- 
ertions to cultivate peace with all the world, 
to obferve treaties with good faith, to 
check deviations from the line of impar- 
tiality, and to explain and corred what 
was mifapprehended or appeared injurious. 
Ever fince the formal ratification of the 
treaties of peace between the United States 
and Great-Britain, numerous caufes of com- 
plaint has exifted on the part of both coun- 
tries refpe£ling its fulfihnent. The hifto- 
ry of the nature, progrefs, and final deter- 
mination of thefe difputes, will form a very 
interefting part in the hiftory of the political 
and diplomatic charader of president 
WAS iNGTON ; but the bounds which we 
have afligned to the prefent Iketch, prevents 



General George Wajhington, 21 1 

us from entering fully upon the fubjedt : 
the ground of complaint on both fides, was 
difputed in 1797, in a correfpondence be- 
tween Mr. JefFerfon, fecretary of ftate and 
Mr. Hammond, the envoy of Britain ; in 
their letters, the reciprocal complaints are 
.ftated v/ith candor, perfpicuity and com- 
pletenefs ; to lupport their refpeclive ar- 
guments, they .bring forward on each fide, 
a large body of illuftrations and authorities, 
which are highly interefting. This corref- 
pondence was published by Congrefs in 
1794. The arguments of Mr. JefFerfon ap- 
peared to have contained unanfwerable 
w^eight, as no reply or explanation were 
ever made to them, although requefi^ed by 
him. — Affairs remained in this ftate offuf- 
penfe until June 1793, when the Britifli, 
in confequence of their hoftijities with 
France, ilTued orders to the commanders 
of their veiTels, to flop all neutral veffels 
carrying proviOons to any port in that re- 
public ; fhips attempting to enter any 
French port, blockaded by the Engliih, 
v/ere to be condemned, both veffel and car- 
go, whatever it may conlift of : the order 



21:2 Biographical Memoirs of 

contained a limited exception in favor of 
Denmark and Sweden, but in the execution 
of it, the rights of America were entirely 
difregarded. This matter produced a di- 
plomatic difcuffion between the minifters of 
the two countries, both at London and Phi- 
ladelphia : Their correfpondence produced 
a mutual wifh on both fides to eftablifli a 
treaty of commerce, and a friendly adjuft« 
ment of all complaints. The Prelident of 
the United States, accordingly nominated 
Mr. John Jay, chief Judge of the United 
States, as an envoy extraordinary to the 
court of London. After a Ihort pafTage, 
Mr. Jay arrived in London, where he met 
with a polite reception, and negociated the 
Treaty of Peace^ Commerce and Navigation, 
which at prefent exifts between the coun- 
tries. 

The treaty arrived in Philadelphia in 
March 1795 5 it was Ihortly after fubmitted 
to the Senate for their confent ; they re- 
turned it to the Prefident on the 24th of 
jfune, and advifed the conditional ratifica- 
tion thereof. About the 30th of the fame 
month it was fubmitted to the public thro' 



General George Wajhtngton. 2 1 3 

the medium of the news papers. It now 
became the general topic of converfation 5 
it was placed in all the different points of 
view of which it was fufceptible, and in ma- 
ny of which it could not admit. 

It met with great oppofition, addreffes 
and refolutions were received from all the 
commercial towns in the union ; fome ad- 
vifmg its ratification, others difapproving of 
it in toto. This oppofition was viewed by 
the Prefident in a very ferious light ; he 
confidered the fubje6t and weighed all the 
arguments which had been advanced againft 
it J his own opinion was not in favor of it, 
but he did not wifh to differ from the Sen- 
ate, and thought that it would be better to 
ratify it in the manner they had advifed ; 
to this meafure he was alfo induced, as Mr. 
Jay had aflerted "that no better terms could 
poflibly be obtained ; and that obflinacy in 
rejecting the fettlement, might be ferious.'^ 
The Prefident therefore afl'ented, and ratifi- 
cations were exchanged, with the fufpenfion 
of the moft objectionable article. 

This tranfaction is perhaps the mofl un- 
fortunate that occurred to his excellency 



214 Biographical Memoir s of 

during the whole period of his Prefidency. 
Thofe oppofed to the treaty did not fail to 
load him with reproach ; no ftone was left 
unturned that could imprefs upon the minds 
of the citizens grofs falfehoods ; fuch as, 
that the treaty contained no reciprocal ad- 
vantages, that the benefits were all on the 
fide of Britain, that their rights were not on- 
ly neglecled, but abfolutely fold, that it was 
made with the defign of oppreffing the 
French, and contrary to every principle of 
gratitude and found policy. 

The lirft fellion of the fourth Congrefs 
met at Philadelphia, in December, 1705. — 
The Prelident in a fpeech informed them 
that negociations were on foot for the ad- 
juflment of afifeirs with the hoftile Indians, 
and alfo with the Dey and Regency of Al- 
giers ; that he had received aiTurances of a 
fpeedy and fatisfaclory conclulion of the ne- 
gociations with Spain ; that with the ad- 
vice of the Senate he had ratified a treaty 
with Britain, upon a condition which ex- 
cepts part of one article. He recommend- 
ed a review of the military eflablifliment, 
and to make provifiori for garrifoning and 



General George Wqfhington, 215 

iecuring the weftern pofls which were to 
be delivered up by the Britifh. He inform- 
ed them that a ftate of the finance and ap- 
propriations neceffary for the enfuing year 
would be laid before them, as alfo ftate- 
ments relative to the mint, progrefs in pro- 
viding materials for building frigates, ftate 
of fortifications, and military magazines, 
Sic. He concluded with a recommenda- 
tion of temperate dilcuflion and mutual for- 
bearance in fubjecls where a difference of 
opinion may be apt to arife. 

A warm and lengthy difcuilion took place 
in the Houfe of Reprefentatives relative to 
the Britifh treaty. Both fides of the quef- 
tion were ably fupported ; few fubjecfls had 
ever comebefoie the Houfe, upon which fo 
many members delivered their fentiments. 
On the 2Uh ot March, 1796, they came to 
a refolution, requefting the Prefident to lay 
before the Houfe, a copy of the inftruclions 
to Mr. Jay, together with his correfpond- 
ence and other documents relative to that 
treaty. To which requeft, the Prefident 
gave a pofitive refufal ; he allured the houfe, 
that he had always endeavored to harmon- 



216 Biographical Memoirs of 

ize with the other branches of government, 
and that he had never withheld any infor- 
mation which the conftitution enjoined him 
to give. But that the nature of foreign ne- 
gociations required caution and fecrecy, that 
all the papers relative thereto had been laid 
before the Senate, that the conftitution em- 
powered him to make treaties with the con- 
fent of that body, but that it would eftab- 
lifli a dangerous precedent to admit a right 
in the Houfe of Reprefentatives to demand 
and have all papers refpedling negociations 
with foreign powers, after the treaties were 
finally concluded and ratified, and the afTent 
of that houfe not neceffary to their validity. 

We deem it unnecellary to enter into a 
hiftory of the differences with the republic 
of France, as they are not yet terminated, 
and are fo recent as to be generally remem- 
bered ; fufEce it to obferve, that during the 
whole period in which General Wafliington 
fat at the helm of public affairs, his whole 
conduct has uniformly exhibited modera- 
tion and prudence, magnanimity and firm- 
nefs, wifdom and virtue- 

The period of General Wafliington's fee- 



General George Wajhington, 217 

ond elecl:ion to the office of Chief Magiftrate 
being nearly expired, he put on a determin- 
ed refolution to retire from the public and 
enjoy his declining years in private life. — 
Upon this momentous occafion, refigning a 
charge which he at firft accepted through 
his enthufiafm for the principles of rational 
liberty^ he was impreffed with the pureft 
wilhes for the future happinefs of that re- 
public, which he had devoted the early, the 
mature, and a portion of his declining years 
to eftablifti. And as a teftimony of pure re- 
gard, he publifhhed the following mafterly 
addrefs to his fellow- citizens. 



ADDRESS 

Of his Excellency GEORGE WASHING- 

TON, Efq. Prefident of ihe United States, 
announcing his intention of retiring from all 
public employment, 

TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES ^ 

Friends and Fellow- Citizens, 

THE period of a new election of a 

citizen to adminifter the executive govern- 
T 



218 Biographical Memoirs of 

ment of the United States, being not far 
diftant, and the time actually arrived, when 
your thoughts muft be employed in de%- 
nating the perfon, who is to be clothed with 
that important truft,it appears to me proper, 
efpecially as it may conduce to a more dif- 
tincl exprefTion of the public voice, that I 
fliould now apprife you of the refolution I 
have formed, to decline being coniidered a- 
mong the number of thofe out of whom a 
choice is to be made. 

I beg you, at the same time, to do me the 
juftice to be affured, that this refolution has 
not been taken without a flridl regard to all 
the confiderations appertaining to the rela- 
tion, which binds a dutiful citizen to his 
country j and that, in withdrawing the ten- 
der of fervice which filence in my fituation 
might imply, I am influenced by no dimin- 
ution of zeal for your future intereft ; no, 
deficiency of grateful refpecl for your paft 
kindnefs ; but am fupported by a full con- 
vi6tion that the ftep is compatible with 
both. 

The acceptance of, and continuance hith- 
erto in the office to which your fuffrages 



General George Wajhington. 219 

have twice called me, have been an uniform 
facrifice of inclination to the opinion of du- 
ty, and to a deference for what appeared to 
be your defire. I conftantly hoped, that it 
would have been much earlier in my power 
confiftently with motives, which I was not 
at liberty to difregard, to return to that re- 
tirement, from which I had been reludlant- 
ly drawn. The ftrength of my inclination 
to this, previous to the laft election had even 
led to the preparation of an addrefs to de- 
clare it you j but mature refledion on the 
then perplexed and critical pofture of our 
affairs with foreign nations, and the unani- 
mous advice of perfons entitled to my con- 
fidence, impelled me to abandon the idea. 

I rejoice, that the flate of your concerns, 
external as well as internal, no longer ren- 
ders the purfuit of inclination incompatible 
with the fentiment of duty, or propriety ; 
and am perfuaded, whatever partiality may 
be retained for my fervices, that in the pref- 
ent circumftances of our country, you will 
not difapprove my determination to retire. 

The impreflions with which I firfl under- 
took the arduous truft, were explained on 



220 Biographical Memoirs of 

the proper occafions. In the difcharge of 
this truft, I will only fay, that I have with 
good intentions, contributed towards the 
organization and adminiftration of the gov- 
ernment, the beft exertions of which a very 
falliable judgment was capable. Not uncon- 
feious, in the outfet, of the inferiority of my 
qualifications, experience in my own eyes, 
perhaps (lill more in the eyes of others, has 
iirengthened the motives to diffidence of 
iTjyfelf ; and every day the increafing weight 
of years admonifhes me more and more, 
that the fnade of retirement is as neceffary 
to me, as it will be welcome. Satisfied that 
if any circumftances have given peculiar val- 
ue to my fervices, they were temporary ; I 
have the confolation to believe, that while 
choice and prudence invUe me to quit the 
political fcene, patriotism does not forbid it. 
In looking forward to the moment, which 
is intended to terminate the. career of my 
public life, my feelings do not permit me to 
fufpend the deep acknowledgment of that 
debt of gratitude which I owe to my belov- 
ed country, for the many honors it has con- 
ferred upon me ; ftill more for the Head- 



General George V/aJhingion, 221 

faft confidence with which it has fupported 
me ; and for the opportunities I have thence 
enjoyed of nianifeftingmy inviolable attach- 
ment, by fervices faithful and perfevering, 
though in ufefulnefs unequal to my zeal. 
If benefits haverefulted to our country from 
thefe fervices, let it always be remembered 
to your praife, and as an inftruclive exam- 
ple in our annals, that under circumftances 
in which the paffions, agitated in every di- 
red:ion, were liable to miilead, amidft ap- 
pearances fometimes dubious, viciffitudes of 
fortune often difcouraging, in fituations in 
which not unfrequently want of fuccefs has 
countenanced the fpirit of criticifm, the 
conftancy of your fupport was the effential 
prop of the efforts, and a guarantee of the 
plans by which they were effeded» Pro- 
foundly penetrated with this idea, I fliall 
carry it with me to my grave, as a ftrong 
incitement to unceafing vows. That Heav- 
en may continue to you the choiceft tokens 
of its beneficence ; that your union and 
brotherly affedion may be perpetual ; that 
the free conllitution, which is the work of 

your hands, may be facredly maintained j 
T 2 



252 Biographical Me?noirs cf 

that its adminiftration in every department 
may be ftamped with wifdom and virtue ; 
that, in fine, the happinefs of the people of 
thefe Hates, under the aufpices of liberty, 
may be made complete, by lb careful a pref- 
er vation, and fo prudent a ufe of this bl ef- 
fing, as will acquire to them the glory of re- 
commending it to applaufe, the affedion 
and adoption of every nation which is yet a 
flranger to it. 

Here, perhaps, I ought to flop. But a 
folicitude for your welfare, which cannot 
end but with my life, and the apprehenfion 
of danger, natural to that folicitude, urge 
me on an occalion like the prefent, to offer 
to your folemn contemplations, and to rec- 
ommend to your frequent review, fome fen- 
timents, which are the refult of much re- 
fleeTion, of no inconfiderable obfervation, 
and which appear to me all important to the 
permanency of your felicity as a people. — 
Thefe will be offered to you with the more 
freedom, as you can only fee in them the 
difinterefled warnings of a parting friend, 
who can pollibly have no perfonal motive 
to bias his counfel Nor can I foiget, as an 



General George Wa/hingion. 223 

encouragement to it, your indulgent recep- 
tion of my fentiments on a former and not 
diffimilar occalion. 

Interwoven as is the love of liberty with 
every ligament of your hearts, no recom- 
mendation of mine is neceilary to fortify or 
confirm the attachment. 

The unity of government which confti- 
tutes you one people, is alfo now dear to 
you. It is juftly fo ; for it is a main pillar 
in the edifice of your real independence, the 
fupport of your tranquillity at home, your 
peace abroad ; of your fafety, of your prof- 
perity ; of that very liberty which you fo 
highly prize. But as it is eafy to forfee, 
that from different quarters, much pains 
will be taken, many artifices employed to 
weaken in your minds the convidion of this 
truth ; as this is the point in your political 
fortrefs againft which the batteries of inter- 
nal enemies will be moil conilantly and ac- 
tively (though often covertly and infiduouf- 
ly) directed, it is of infinite moment, that 
you fhould properly eitimate the immenfe 
value of your national union, to your col-- 
lective and individual happinefs j that you 



224 Biographical Memoirs of 

Ihould cherilh a cordial, habitual and im- 
movable attachment to it ; accuiioming 
yourfelves to think and fpeak of it as of the 
palladium of your political fafety and prof- 
perity ; watching for its prefervation with 
jealous anxiety ; difcountenancing whatev- 
er may fuggeft even a fufpicion that it can 
in an event be abandoned j and indignant- 
ly frowning upon the lirlf dawning of eve. 
ry attempt to alienate any portion of our 
country from the reft, or to enfeeble the fa- 
cred ties, which now link together the va- 
rious parts. 

F(;r this you have every inducement of 
fympathy and intereft. Citizens by birth 
or choice, of. a common country, that coun- 
try has a right to concentrate your affec- 
tions. The name of American^ which be- 
longs to you, in your national capacity, 
muft always exalt the juft pride of patriot- 
ifm, more than any appellation derived from 
local difcriminat ions. With flight fhades of 
difference, you have the fame religion, man- 
ners, habits and political principles. You 
have in a common caufe fought and tri- 
umphed together : the independence and 



General George Wajhingion, 225 

liberty you poffefs are the work of joint 
Gouncils and joint efforts, of common dan- 
gers, fufferings and fucceff s. 

But thefe coiifiderations, however power- 
fully they addrefs themfelves to your fenfi- 
bility, are greatly outweighed by thofe 
which apply more immediately to your in- 
tereft. Here every portion of cur country 
finds the moft commanding motives for 
carefully guarding and preferving the union 
of the whole. 

The North in an unftrained intercourfe 
with the South, protected by the equal laws 
of a common government, finds in the pro- 
ductions of the latter, great additional re- 
fources of maritime and commercial enter- 
prize and precious materials of manufactur- 
ing induftry- The South, in the fame inter- 
courfe, benefiting by the agency of the 
North, fees its agriculture grow, aud its 
comnjerce expand. Turning partly into its 
own channels the feamen of the North, it 
finds its particular navigation invigorated ;- 
and while it contributes in different ways, 
to nourifh and increafe the general mass of 
the national navigation, it looks forward to 



226 Biographical Memcirs of 

the protedlion of a maratime flrength to 
which itfelf is unequally adapted. The Eafl 
in a like intercourfe with the Weft already 
finds, and in the progrefllve improvement 
of interior communications, by land and 
water, will more and more lind a valuable 
vent for the commodities which it brings 
from abroad, or manufactures at home. — 
The Weil derives from the Eaft, fupplies 
requiite to its growth and comfort : and 
what is perhaps of ftiil greater confequence, 
it muft of necellity owe the fecure enjoy- 
ment of indifpen fable outlets for its own pro- 
duclions to the weight, influence, and the 
future maritime ftrength of the Atlantic 
fide of the Union, directed by an indiffolu- 
ble community of intereft as one naiion.-^ 
Any other tenure by which the Weft can 
hold this eflential advantage, whether de- 
rived from its own feparate ftrength, or 
from an apoftate and unnatural connexion 
with any foreign power, muft be intrinftcal- 
ly precarious. 

While then every part of our country 
thus feels an immediate and particular inter- 
eft in Union, all the parts combined cannot 



General George Wajhlngton. 227 

fail to find in the united mafs of means and 
efforts greater ftiength, greater refource, 
proportionably greater fecurity from exter- 
nal danger, a lefs frequent interruption of 
their peace by foreign nations ; and what is 
of ineftimable value ! they mud derive from 
Union and exemption from thofe broils and 
wars between themfelves, v/hich fo fre- 
quently affli6l neighboring countries, not 
tied together by the fame government ; 
which their own rivalfliips alone would be 
fufficient to produce, but which oppofite 
foreign alliances, attachments^ and intrigues 
would ftimulate and embitter. — Hence like- 
wife they will avoid the neceffity of thofe o- 
ver-grown military eftablifliments, which 
under any form of government are inauf- 
picious to liberty, and which are to be re- 
garded as particularly hoftile to Republican 
Liberty ; in this fenfe, it is that your Un- 
ion ought to be confidr-red as a main prop 
of your liberty, and that tlv ^ove of the one 
ought to endear to you the prefervation of 
the other. 

Thefe confiderations fpeak a periuafive 
language to every refleding and virtuous 



228 Biographical Memoirs of 

mind, and exhibit the continuance of the 
Union as a primary object of patriotic de- 
fire. — Is there a doubt whether a common 
government can embrace fo large a fphere ? 
— Let experience folve it. To liften to 
mere fpeculation in fuch a cafe were crim- 
inal. — We are authorifed to hope that a 
proper organization of the whole, with the 
auxiliary agency of governments for the re- 
fpedive fub-diviiions, will afford a happy if- 
fue to the experiment. With fuch power- 
ful and obvious motives to union, affecting 
all parts of our country, while experience 
fliall not have demonftrated its impradibil- 
ity, there will always be reafon to diftruft 
the patriotifm of thofe, who, in any quarter, 
may endeavor to weaken its bands. 

In contemplating the caufes which may 
diflurb our union, it occurs as matter of fe- 
rious concern, that any ground (hould have 
been furnifhed for characlerifmg parties by 
Geograpiiical difcriminations,'' iVor/Z^^rw and 
Southern^ Atlantic and Wejlern ;" whence de- 
signing men may endeavor to excite a be- 
lief, that there is a real difference of local in- 
interefts and views. One of the expedi- 



General George Wajhington. 229 

ents of party to acquire influence, within 
particular diftridls, is to miireprefent the o- 
pinions and aims of other diftrids. You 
cannot fhield yourfelves too much againft 
the jealoufies and heart- burnings which 
fpring thefe mifreprefentations: they tend to 
render alien to each other thofe who ought 
to be bound together by fraternal afFedion. 
The inhabitants of our weftern country 
have lately had an ufeful leiTon on this head 
—they have feen, in the negociation by the 
executive, and in the unanimous ratification 
by the Senate, of the treaty with Spain, and 
in the univerfal fatisfaftion of that event, 
throughout the United States, a decifive 
proof how unfounded were the fufpicions 
propogated among them, of the policy in 
the general government and in the Atlan- 
tic ftates unfriendly to their interefts in re- 
gard to the MiJ/iffippi : they have been wit- 
neffes to the formation of two treaties, that 
with Great Britain and that with Spain, 
which fecure to them every thing they could 
defire, in refped to our foreign relations?, 
towards confirming their profperity. Will 

it not be their wifdora to rely for the pref- 
U 



^30 Biographical Memoirs of 

ervation of thefe advantages on the Union by 
which they were procured ? Will they not 
henceforth be deaf to thofe advifers, if fuch 
there are, who wouM fever them from their 
brethren and conned them with aliens ? 

To the efficacy and permanency of your 
union, a governm^ent for the whole is indif- 
penfable. — No alUances, however ftrid, be- 
tween the parts, can be an adequate fubfti- 
tute ; they muii inevitably experience the 
infractions and interruptions which all allian- 
ces, in all times, have experienced. Senfi- 
ble of this momentous truth, you have im- 
proved upon your firft effay, by the adop- 
tion of a conftitution of government better 
calculated than your former for an intimate 
union, and for the efficacious management 
of your comuion concerns. This govern- 
ment, the offspring of our own choice, un- 
inflaenced and unawed, adopted upon full 
inveftigation, and mature deliberation, com- 
pletely free in its principles, in the diiiribu- 
tion of its powers, uniting fecuring with en- 
ergy, and containing within itfelf a provif- 
ion for its own amedment, has a juft claim 
to your confidence and your fupport. Re- 



General George Wajhmgton. 251 

fped for its authority, compliance with its 
laws, acquiefcence in its meafures, are duties 
enjoined by the fundamental maxims of 
true Liberty, The baiis of our political fyf- 
tem is the right of the people to make and 
to alter their conftitution of government ; 
but, the conftitution which at any time ex- 
ifts, till changed by an explicit and authen- 
tic ad of the whole people, is facredly obli- 
gatory upon all. The very idea of the pow- 
er and the right of the people to eftablifh 
government, piefuppofes the duty of every 
individual to obey the eftabiifhed govern- 
ment. 

All obftruclions to the execution of the 
laws, all combinations and affociations, un- 
der whatever plaufible character, with real 
defign to direct, controul,countera<5l, or awe 
the regular deliberations and a6lion of the 
conftituted authorities, are deftru6>ive of 
this fundamental principle, and of fatal ten- 
dency. They ferve to organize fadlion, to 
give it an artificial and extraordinary force ; 
to put it in the place of the delegated will of 
a party, often a fmall but artful and enter- 
prifing minority of the community j and 



232 Biographical Memoirs of 

according to the alternate triumphs of dif- 
ferent parties, to make the public adminif- 
tration the mirror of the ill concerted and 
incongruous projeds of faction, rather than 
the organ of conliftent and wholefome plans 
digefted by common councils, and modified 
by mutual interefts. 

However combinations or alTociations of 
the above defcription may now and then an- 
fwer popular ends, they are likely in the 
courfe of time and things to become potent 
engines, by which cunning, ambitious and 
unprincipled men will be enabled to fubvert 
the power of the people, and to ufury for 
themfelves the reins of government ; de- 
ftroying afterwards the very engines which 
have lifted them to unjuft dominion. 

Towards the prefervation of your govern- 
ment, and the permanency of your prefent 
happy ftate, it is requifite, not only that you 
ileadily difcountenance irregular oppofitions 
to its acknowledged authority, but alfo that 
you relift with care the fpirit of innovation 
upon the principles however fpecious the 
pretexts. One method of affault may be 
to effed in the forms of the conftitution al- 



General George Wafhington, 233 

terations which will impair the energy of 
the fyftem, and that to undermine what can- 
not be diredtly overthrown. In all the chan- 
ges to which you may be invited, remember 
time and habit are at lead as neceffary to 
fix the true charader of governments, as of 
other human inftitutions ; that experience 
IS the fureft flandard, by which to tell the 
real tendency of the exifting conftitution of 
a country ; that facility changes upon the 
credit of mere hypothefis and opinion, and 
remember, efpecially, that for the efficient 
management of your common intereft, in a 
country far extenlive as ours, a government 
of as much vigor as is confiftent with the 
perfed fecurity of liberty, is indifpenfable. 
Liberty itfelf will find in fuch a govern- 
ment, with powers properly difturbed and 
adjufted, its fureft guardian. It is indeed 
little elfe than a name where the govern- 
ment is too feeble to withftand the enterpri- 
fes of fadion, to confine each member of the 
fociety within the limits prefcribed by the 
laws, and fo maintain all in the fecure and 
tranquil enjoyments of the rights of perfon 
and property. 

U 2 



234 Biographical Memoirs of 

I have already intimated to you the dan- 
ger of parties in the ftate, with a particular 
reference to the founding of them on geo- 
graphical difcrirninations. Let me now 
take a more comprehenfive view, and warn 
you in the mofl folemn manner againft the 
baneful efFecls of the fpirit of party, gener- 
ally. 

The fpirit, unfortunately, is infeparable 
from our nature, having its root in the 
llrongeft paffions of the human mind It 
exifts under different fhapes in all govern- 
ments more or lefs ftifley, controuled, or re- 
prefTed ; but in thofe of the popular form, 
it is feen in its greatefl ranknefs, and is tru- 
ly their worfl enemy. 

The alternate domination of one fadion 
over another, Iharpened by the fpirit of re- 
venge, natural to party diffention, which in 
different ages and countries has perpetrated 
the mofl horrid enormities, is itfelf a fright- 
ful defpotifm. — But this leads at length to a 
more formal and permanent defpotifm. The 
diforders and miferies, which generally re- 
fult, gradually incline the minds of men to 
feek fecurity and repofe in the abfolute pow- 



General George Wajhmgton, 235 

er of an individual : and fooneror later the 
chief of fome prevailing fadion more able 
or more fortunate than his competitors, 
turns this difpofition to the purpofes of his 
own elevation, on the ruins of public liber- 
ty- 

Without looking forward to an exti*emi- 

ty of this kind, (which neverthelefs ought 
not to be entirely out of %ht) the common- 
and continual mifchiefs of the fpirit of party 
are fufficient to make it the intereft and du- 
ty of a wife people to difcourage and reftrain 
it. 

It ferves always to diftrad the public 
confels, and enfeeble the public adminiftra- 
tion. It agitates the community with ill- 
founded jealoulies and falfe alarms ; kindles 
the animoiity of one part againft another ; 
foments occafionally riot and infurreclion. 
It opens the door to foreign influence ar^d 
corruption, which find a facilitated accefsto 
the government itfelf, through the channels 
of party paflions. Thus the policy and the 
will of one country are fubjecled to the pol- 
icy and will of another. 



23B Biographical Memoirs of 

There is an opinion that parties in free 
countries are uleful checks upon the admin- 
iftration of the government, and ferve to 
keep alive the fpirit of liberty. This with- 
in certain limits, is probably true 5 and in 
governments of a monarchical call, patriot- 
ifm may look with indulgence, if not with 
favor upon the fpirit of party. But in thofe 
of the popular chara6ler5 in governments 
purely ele(5live, it is a fpirit not to be encour. 
aged. From their natural tendency, it is 
certain there will always be enough of that 
fpirit for every falutary purpofe. And there 
being conflant danger of excefs, the effort 
ought to be, by force of public opinion, to 
mitigate and affuage it. A fire not to be 
quenched ; it dem.ands an uniform vigilance 
to prevent its buifting into a flame, left in- 
fteaa of warming it fliould confume. 

It is important likewife, that the habits of 
thinking in a tree country ihould infpire 
caution, in thofe entrufted with its adminif- 
tration, to confine themfelves within their 
refpedive conftitutional fpheres, avoiding 
in the exercife of their powers of one de- 
partment to encroach upon another. The 



General George Wajhingion, 237 

fpirit of encroachment tends to confolidate 
the powers of all the departments in one, 
and thus to create, whatever the form of 
government, a real defpotifm. A juft efli- 
mate of that love of power, and pronenefs 
to abufe it, which predominates in the hu^ 
man heart, is fufEcient to fatisfy us of the 
truth of this pofition. The neceflity of re- 
ciprocal checks in the exercife of political 
power, by dividing and diftributir-g it into 
different depofitories, and conflituthig each 
the guardian of the public weal againfl in- 
vafions by the others, has been exvinced by 
experiments ancient and modern : fume of 
them in our country and under our own 
eyes. To preferve them mufi: be as necef- 
fary as to inflitute them. If, in the opin- 
ion of the people, the diftribution or modi- 
fication of the conftitutional powers be in 
any particular wrong, let it be corrected by 
an amendment in a way which the conftitu- 
tion defignates. But let there be no change 
by ufurpation ; for though this, in one in- 
ftance^ may be the inftrument of good, it is 
the cuflomary weapon by which free gov- 
ernments are deftroyed. The precedent 



238 Biographical Memoirs of 

muft always greatly overbalance in perma- 
nent evil, any partial or tranfient benefit 
which the ufe can at any time yield. 

Of all the difpC'fitions and habits which, 
lead to political profperity. Religion and 
Morality are indifpenfable fupports. In 
vain would that man claim the tribute of 
patriotifm, who fhould labor to iubvert 
thefe great pillars of human happinefs, thefe 
fii melt props of the duties of men and citi- 
zens. The mere politician, equally with the 
pic*us man, ought to refped and to cherifh 
them. A volume could not trace all their 
connexions with private and public felicity, 
Let it limply be alked, where is the fecurity 
for property, i'^Y reputation, for life, if the 
fenfe of religious obhgation defert the oaths, 
which are the inftruments of inveftigation 
in courts of juftice ? And let us with cau- 
tion indulge the fuppofition, that morality ^ 
can be Uiaintained without religion. What- 
ever maybe conceded to the iiiiluence of 
refined education on minds of peculiar ftruc- 
ture ; reafon and experience both forbid us 
toexpecl: that national morality can prevail 
in exclufion of religious principle. 



General George Wajhlngton. 239 

*Tis fubftantially true that virtue or mo- 
rality is a neceffary fpring of popular guv- 
eminent. The rule indeed extends with 
more or lefs force to every fpecies of free 
government. Who that is a fincere friend 
to it, can look with indifference upon at- 
tempts to fhake the foundation of the fab- 
ric. 

Promote, then, as an object of primary 
importance, inftitutions for the general dif- 
fuiion of knowledge. In proportion as the 
ftrudlure of a government gives force to 
public opinion, it is effential that public o- 
pinion (hould be enlightened. 
' As a very important fource of ftrength 
and fecurity, cherifh public credit. One 
method of preferving it, is to ufe it as fpar- 
ingly as poilible ; avoiding the occaiions of 
expence by cultivating peace ; but remem- 
bering alfo, that timely difburfements to re- 
pel it ; avoiding likewife the accumulation 
of debt, not only by fhunning occaiions of 
expenfe, but by vigorous exertions in time 
of peace to difcharge the debts which una- 
voidable wars may have occaiioned, not un- 
generoufly throwing upon pofterity the bur- 



240 Biographical Memoirs of 

then which we ourfelves ought to bear. The 
execution of thefe maxims belong to your 
reprefentatives ; but it is neceflary that pub- 
lic opinion fliould co-operate. 

To facilitate them the performance of their 
duty, it is effential that you ihould pradlic- 
ally bear in mind, that towards the pay- 
ment of debts there mud be revenue : that 
to have revenue, there mufl be taxes ; and no 
taxes can be devifed that are not more or 
lefs inconvenient and unpleafant ; that the 
intrinfic embarraflment infeparable from the 
feledion of the proper objeds, (which is al- 
ways a choice of difficulties) ought to be a 
deciiive motive for candid conflru<^ion of 
the conducl of the government in making 
it, and for the fpirit of acquiefcence in the 
meafures for obtaining revenue, which the 
public exigencies may at any time didate. 

Obferve good faith and juftice towards 
all nations : cultivate peace and harmony 
with all ; religion and morality enjoin this 
condud ; and can it be, that good policy 
does not equally enjoin it ? It will be wor- 
thy of a free, enlightened, and, at no diilant 
period, a great nation, to give to mankind 



General George Wajhingion, 241 

the magnanimous and too novel example of 
a people always guided by an exalted juftice 
and benevolence. Who can doubt, ihat in 
the courfe of time and things, the fruits of 
fuch a plan would richly repay any tempo- 
rary advantages which might be loft by a 
fteady adherence to it ? — Can it be that 
Providence has not connected the perma- 
nent felicity of a nation with its virtue ? 
The experiment at Jeaft, is recommended 
by every fentiment which ennobles human 
nature. — Alas ! is it rendered inipoillble by 
its vices ? 

In the execution of fuch a plan, nothing 
is more eflential than that permanent, in- 
veterate antipathies againft particular na- 
tions, and paffionate attachments for others, 
fliould be excluded ; and that in the place 
of them, juft and amicable feelings towards 
all fliould be cultivated. The nation which 
indulges towards another an habitual hatred, 
or an habitual fondnefs, is in fome degree a 
Have. It is a flave to its animofity or its af- 
fection, either of which is fufEcient to lead 
aftray from its duty and its intereft. An- 
tipathy in one nation againft another, difpo- 
W 



242 Biographical Memoirs of 

fes each more readily to offer infult and in- 
jury, to lay hold of flight caufes of umbragCj 
and to be haughty and untracftable, when 
accidental or trilling occafions of difpute oc 
cur. 

Hence, frequent collifions, obftinate, en- 
venomed and bloody contefts. — The nation 
prompted by ill-will and refentment, fome- 
times impels to war the government, con- 
trary to the beft calculations of policy* The 
government fometimes participates in the 
national propenlity, and adopts, through 
paffion, what reafon would rejed ; at other 
times it makes the animofity of the nation 
fubfervient to projeds of hofiility, inftiga- 
ted by pride, ambition, and other iinifter 
and pernicious motives. The peace often, 
fometimes perhaps the liberty of nations, 
has been the vidim. 

So like wife a paflionate attachment of one 
nation for another, produces a variety of e- 
vils. Sympathy tor the favorite nation, fa- 
cilitating the iliufion of an imaginary com- 
mon intereft, in cafes where no real com- 
mon intereft exifts, and infufing into one 
the enmities of the other, betrays the for* 



General George Wajhingion, 243 

mer into a participation in the quarrels and 
wars of the latter, without adequate induce- 
ment or juftification. It leads alfo to con- 
ceffions to the favorite nation of privileges 
denied to others, which is apt doubly to in- 
jure the nation making the concefllons ; by 
unneceffarily parting with what ought to 
have been retained j and by exciting jeal- 
oufy, ill-will, and a difpofition to retaliate, 
in the parties from whom equal privileges 
are withheld : And it gives to ambitious, 
corrupted or deluded citizens (who devote 
themfelves to the favorite nation) facility to 
betray or facrifice the interefts of their own 
country, without odium, fometimes even 
with popularity 5 gilding with the appear- 
ances of a virtuous fenfe of obligations, and 
commendable deference for public opinion, 
or a laudable zeal for public good, the bafe 
or fooliCh compliances of ambition, corrup- 
tion or infatuation- 

As avenues to foreign influence in innu- 
merable ways, fuch attachments are partic- 
ularly alarming to the enlightened and in- 
dependent patriot. — How many opportuni- 
ties, do they afford to tamper with domeftic 



244 Biographical Memoirs of 

fadions, to pradlce the arts of fedudion, to 
miflead public opiaion, to influence or awe 
the public councils ! Such an attachnnent of 
a fmall or weak, towards a great and pow- 
erf 5^1 nation, dooms the former to be the 
fatellite of ihe other. 

Againfl the infidious wiles of foreign in- 
fluence (I conjure you to believe me, fellow 
citizens) the jealouly of a free people ought 
to be conjiantly awake ; lince hiftory and ex- 
perience prove, that foreign influence is one 
of the moft baneful foes of republican gov- 
ernment. But tha^ ]*ealoufy to be ufeful 
muft be impartial ; elfe it becomes the in- 
flrument of the very influence to be avoid- 
ed, inilead of a defence againft it. Excef- 
iive partiality for one foreign nation, and 
excelTive difiike of another, caufe thofe 
whom they actuate to fee the danger only 
on one fide, and ferve to veil and even to 
fecond the arts of influence on the other. 
Real patriots, who may relift the intrigues 
of the favorite, are liable to become fufpect- 
ed and odious ; while its tools and dupes u- 
furp the applaufe and confidence of the peo- 
pie to fur render their inter efts. 



General George Wajhington. 245 

The great rule of conduct for us, in re- 
gard to foreign nations, is in extending our 
commercial relations, to have with them as 
little political connexion as poflible. So far 
as we have already formed engagements, let 
them be fulfilled with perfed good faith. — 
Here let us flop. 

Europe has a fet of primary interefts, 
which to us have none, or a very remote re- 
lation. — Hence die mufl be engaged in fre- 
quent controverfies, the caufes of which 
are effentially foreign to our concerns. — 
Hence, therefore, it muft be unwife in us to 
implicate ourfelves, by artificial ties, in the 
ordinary viciffitudes of her politics, or her 
ordinary combinations or colliCons of her 
friendfhips, or enmities. 

Our detached and diftant fituation in- 
vites and enables us to purfue a diflferent 
courfe. If we remain one people, under an 
efiicient government, the period is not far 
off, when w^e may defy material injury from 
external annoyance ; when we may take 
fuch an attitude as will caufe the neutrality, 
we may at any time refolve upon, to be fcru- 

puloufly refpededj when belligerent na- 
W 2 



246 Biographical Memoirs of 

tions, under the impoflibility of rraking ac- 
quifitions upon us, will not lightly hazard 
the giving us provocation j when we may f 
choofe peace or war, as our intereft, guided 
by juftice, fhall counfel. 

Why forego the advantages of fo pecul- 
iar a fituation ? Why quit your own to 
ftand upon foreign ground ? Why, by inter- 
weaving our deftiny with that of any part 
of Europe, entangle our peace and profper- 
ity in the toils of European ambition, rival- 
Ihip, intereft, humor or caprice ? 

'Tis our true policy to fteer clear of per- 
manent alliances, with any portion of the 
foreign world : fo far, I mean, as we are 
now at liberty to do it : for let me not be 
underftood as capable of patronizing infi- , 
delity to exifling engagements. I hold the 
maxim no lefs applicable to public than pri- 
vate affairs, that honefty is always the beft 
policy. I repeat it, therefore, let thofe en- 
gagements be obferved in their genuine 
fenfe. But, in my opinion, it is neceffary, 
and would be unwife, to extend them. 

Taking care always to keep ourfelves, by 
fuitable eftabliihments, on a refpedable de- 



General George Wajhingion, 24ri 

fen five pofture, we in ay fafefly truil to tem- 
porary alliances for extraordinary emergen- 
cies. 

Harmony and liberal intercourfe with all 
nations, are recommended by policy, hu- 
manity and intereft. But even our com- 
mercial policy fhould hold an equal and im- 
partial hand ; neither feeking nor granting 
exclufive favors or preferences ; confulting 
the natural courfe of things \ difFufing and 
diverfifying, by gentle means, the flreams 
of commerce, but forcing nothing, eftab- 
lifhing, with powers fo difpofed, in order to 
give trade a liable courfe, to define the 
rights of our merchants, and to enable the 
government to fupport them ; convention- 
al rules of intercourfe, the bell; that pr^ent 
circumftances and mutual opinion will per- 
mit, but temporary, and liable to be from 
time abandoned or varied, as experience and 
circumftances Ihall didate ; conftantly keep- 
ing in view, that 'tis folly in one nation to 
look for difinterefted favors from another ^ 
that it muft pay with a portion of its inde- 
pendence for whatever it may accept under 
that character > that by fuch acceptance it 



248 Biographical Memoirs of 

may place itfelf in the condition of having 
given equivalents for noniinal favors, and 
yet of being reproached with ingratitude 
for not giving more. There can be no 
greater error than to expect, or calculate 
upon real favors from nation to nation. — 
'Tis an illufiori which experience mufl cure, 
which a juft pride ought to difcard. 

In offering to you, my countrymen, thefe 
counfels of an old and affectionate friend, I 
dare not hope they will make the ftrong 
and iafting impreffion I could wifh ; that 
they will control the ufual current of the 
paffions, or prevent our nation from run- 
ning the courfe which has hitherto marked 
the defliny of nations ; But, if I may even 
flatier myfelf that they may be produdive 
of fome partial benefit, fome occafional 
good ; that they may now and then recur 
to m.oderate the fury of party fpirit, to warn 
againft the mifchiefs of foreign intrigue, to 
guard againft the impoftures of pretended 
patriotifm ; this hope will be a full recom- 
pence for the folicitude of your welfare, by 
which they have been dictated. 



General George Wajhinglon. 249 

How far in the difcliarge of my official 
duties, I have been guided by the principles 
that they have been deliiieated, the public 
records and other evidences of my conduct 
muft witnefs to you and the world. To my- 
felf, the aflurance of my own confcience is, 
that I h<we at leaft believed myfelf to be 
guided by them. 

In relation to the ftill fubfiding war in 
Europe, my proclamation of the 22d of A- 
pril, 1793 is the index to my plan. Sanc- 
tioned by ycur approving voice and by that 
of your Reprefentatives in both Houfes of 
Congrefs, the fpirit of that meafure has con- 
tinually governed me ; uninfluenced by any 
attempts to deter or divert me from it. 

After deliberate examination with the aid 
of the beft lights I could obtain, I was well 
fatisfied that our country, under all the cir- 
cumftances of the cafe, had a right to take, 
and was bound in the duty and intereft, to 
take a neutral pofition* Having taken it, I 
determined, as far as fliould depend upon 
me to maintain it, with moderation, perfe- 
verance and firmnefs. 



250 Biographical Memoirs of 

The confiderations which refpect the right 
to hold this conduct, it is not ncceilary on 
this occafion to detail. I will only obterve, 
that according to my underftanding of the 
matter, that right, fo far from being deni- 
ed by any of the belligerent powers, has 
been virtually admitted by all. 

The duty of holding a neutral condud 
may be inferred, without any thing more, 
from the obligations which juilice and hu- 
ma-nity impofe on every nation, in cafes in 
which it is free to acl, to maintain inviolate 
the relations of peace and amity towards 
other nations. 

I he inducements of iatereft for obferving 
that conduct will bell be referred to your 
own reflections and experience. With me, 
a predominant motive has been to endeavor 
to gain time to our country to fettle and 
mature its yet recent inflitutions, and to 
progrefs without interruption, to that de- 
gree of ftrength and confiftency, which is 
neceflary to give it, humanly fpeaking, the 
command of its own fortunes. 

Though in reviewing the incidents of my 



General George Wajhingion, 251 

adminiftration, I am unconfcious of inten- 
tional error : I am, neverthelefs, too fenfi. 
ble of my defects not to think it probable 
that I may have committed many errors. — 

Whatever they may be^ I fervently befeech the 
Almighihy to avert or mitigate the evils to which 
they may tend* 1 jhall alfo carry with me the 
hope that my country will never ceafe to view 
them with indulgence ; and that after forty -Jive 
years of my life dedicated to its fervice, with an 
upright zeal^ the faults of incompetent abilities 
will be configned to oblivion^ as myfelfmufl foon 
be to the manjions ofrejl. 

Relying on its kindnefs in this, as in oth- 
er things, and actuated by that fervent love 
towards it, which is fo natural to a man, 
who views in it the natural ii)il of himfelf 
and his progenitors for feveral generations ; 
I anticipate, with pleafing expectation, that 
retreat, in which I promife myfelf to real- 
ize, without alloy, the fweet enjoyments of 
partaking, in the midft of my fellow citi- 
zens, the benign influence of good laws un- 
der a free government ; the ever-favorite 
objecl of my heart, and the happy reward 



252 Biographical Memoirs of 

as I truft, of our mutual cares, labors and 
dangers. 

GEO: WASHINGTON. 

United States, 7 
17 tb Sept. 1796. 3 



ON the 17th December, 1796, Prefident 
WASHINGTON delivered his iaj Speech to 
the reprefentatives of the people at the open- 
ing of the fecond feflion of the fourth Con- 
grefs. We regret that our contraded lim- 
its will not permit of inferting it verbatim. 
In this addrefs he communicates informa- 
tion refpeding the meafures taken for car- 
rying into efFed treaties with the Indian na- 
tions, G/eat Britain, Spain and Algiers. — 
He likewife informs, that meafures are in 
operation for efFeding treaties with the Re- 
gencies of Tunis and Tripoli. He wifhes 
the United States to look to the means, and 
to fet about the gradual creation of a navy ; 
fo that a future war with Europe may not 
find our commerce in the fame unproted- 
ed ftate in which it was found by the pafl. 



General George Wqfhington, 253 

He then proceeds to recommend the ef- 
tabliftiment of certain branches of manufac- 
ture on public account ; particularly thofe 
which are of a nature ejfential to the furnijhing 
and equipping of the public force in time of war • 

He judicioufly recommends the inftitu- 
tion of a Board of Agriculture, compofed of 
proper characters, charged with colleding 
and difFufing information, and enabled, by- 
premiums and fmall pecuniary aids, to en- 
courage and affift a fpirit of difcovery and 
improvement. Experience has proved this 
to be a cheap inftrument of immenfe nation- 
al benefit. He then recalls the attention of 
Congrefs, to a fubjecl, he had before pro- 
pofed to their confideration, the expedien- 
cy of eftabliihing a national univerfity, and 
alfo a military academy. He points out as 
motives to the inftitution of a national uni- 
verfity, the afilmilation of the principles, 
opinions, and manners of our countrymen, 
by the common education of a portion of 
our youth from every quarter, and remarks 
that the more homogeneous out citizens 
can be made in thefe particulars, the greats 
er will be the profped of our permanent 



254f Biographical Memoirs of 

union : and that a primary objed ftiould be 
the education of our youth in the Icienceof 
GOVERNMENT. In a republic, what fpe- 
cies of knowledge can be equally important ? 
and what duty can be more preffing on its 
Legiflature, than to patronize a plan for 
communicating it to thofe who are to be 
the future guardians of the liberties of the 
country ? 

The inftitution of a military academy, he 
alfo obferves, is recommended by cogent 
reafons. — However pacific fays he, the gen- 
eral policy of a nation may be, it ought nev- 
er to be without an adequate ftock of mili- 
tary knowledge, for emergencies. 

The following important paragraph is 
verbatim : " The compenfation to the offi- 
cers of the United States, in various inflan- 
ces, and in none more than in refpect to the 
moft important ilations, appear to call for 
legillative revifion. The confequences of a 
defective provifion are of ferious import to 
the government. If private wealth is to 
fupply the defect of public contribution, it 
y^ill greatly contract the fphere, within 
which the feledion of charader for office is 



General George Wajhingion, 255 

to be made, and will proper tionably dimin- 
ifh the probability of a choice of men able, 
as well as upright. Befides, that it would 
be repugnant to the vital principles of our 
government, virtually to exclude from pub- 
lic trufts, talents and virtue, unlefs accom- 
panied by wealth." 

The Prefident then exprelTes his regret 
at the unpleafant circumftances which have 
occurred relative to the French republic ; his 
ardent wifh being to maintain cordial har- 
mony, as far as is confident with the rights 
and honor of our country. 

The Houfe of Reprefentatives he inform- 
ed, that the revenues of the United States 
continue in a^flate of progrellive improve- 
ment ; and are invited to take fuch further 
meafures as will afcertain, to our country, 
the fpeedy extinguifhment of the public 
debt. 

He then concluded his addrefs to both 
Houfes of Congrefs, in the following words : 
" My folicitude to fee the militia of the U- 
nited States placed on an efficient eflablifh- 
ment, has been fo often and fo ardently ex- 
preffed, that I fhall but barely recall the fub- 



256 Biographical Memoirs of 

jed to your view, on the prefent occafion, 
at the fame time, I fliall fubmit to your en- 
quiry, whether our harbors are yet fuffi- 
ciently fecured." 

The fituation in which T now ftand, for 
the laft time, in the midft of the reprefent- 
atives of the people of the United States, 
naturally recalls the period, when the ad- 
miniftration of the prefent form of govern- 
ment commenced -, and I cannot omit the 
occafion to congratulate you, and my coun- 
try, on the fuccefs of the experiment ; not 
to repeat my fervent prayer to the Supreme 
Ruler of the Univerfe, and Sovereign Arbi- 
ter of Nations, that his providential care, 
may ftill be extended to the United States ; 
that the virtue and happinefs of the people 
may be preferved ; and that the govern- 
ment which they have inftituted for the 
proteclion of their liberties may be perpetu- 
al." 

On Saturday the 4th of March, 179Y, 
John Jdams, E/q. who was elected the fuc- 
cefTor of Prefidefji WASHiNoroN^ attended the 
Senate and Houfe of Reprefentatives of the 
United States, and took his oath of office,. 



General George Wajhington, 257 

according to the directions of the conftitu- 
tion. The ceremony afforded a fpedlacle of 
high fatisfadion and delight to every genu- 
ine republican. To behold a fellow- citizen 
raifed by the voice of the people to be the 
firft magiftrate of a free nation, and to be- 
hold at the fame time George Wafhington, 
who lately filled the prefidential chair, at- 
tending the inauguration of his fucceffor in 
office, as a private citizen, beautifully exem- 
plifying fublime fimplicity and excellence of 
repubUcan government. 

The laft official ad of Prefident Wash- 
ington, is a letter to the Secretary of State, 
dated March S, 1797. It refpeds certain 
forged letters, which were publiflied in the 
years 1777 and 1796, and obtruded on the 
public as his. They were publiflied at the 
two moft critical periods of his life, with 
the view of ftriking at the integrity of his 
motives, of wounding his character, and of 
deceiving the people. At the conclufionj 
therefore of his public employments, he 
deemed it a duty which he owed to himfelf, 
to his country, and to truth, to detail the 

circumfiances, and folemnly to declare, that 
X 2 



258 Biographical Memoirs of 

the letters (the dates of which he recites) 
are bafe forgeries, we? e never written by 
him, and that he never fa w or heard of them, 
until they appeared in print. During the 
period in which he held the fupreme com- 
mand of the army, and bis civil adminftra- 
tion, the purity of his own mind prevented 
him from contradiding the falfehood, by 
any public declaration ; but. Upon his retir- 
ing to private life, and not knowing how 
foon a more ferious event might take place, 
he made this public declaration, and requeft- 
ed that it might be depofited in the office of 
the department of ftate, as a teftimony of 
the truth to the prefent generation and to 
pofterity. 

On the 22d of March, 1797, General 
Wafliington took farewell of all public em- 
ployment, and left Philadelphia for his ef- 
tate at Mount Vernon. In every town 
through which he pafled on his way, he re- 
ceived the grateful and affedionate addref- 
fes which w ere fo juftly due to his merits 
from an enlightened and grateful people. 

Having thus amply defcribed the augu/i 
Washington in his public charader and of- 



General George Wojfywgton, 259 

ficial capacity, fufFer us, for a moment, to 
follow him in private, and take a view of 
him in the charader of a plain citizen, in 
his rural refidence at Mount Vernon 

The virtuous fimplicity which diftinguiih- 
ed the private life of General Waftiington, 
though lefs known than the dazzling fplen- 
dor of his military atchievements, is not lefs 
edifying in example, or worthy the atten- 
tion of his countrymen. The confpicuous 
character he ad:ed on the theatre of human " 
affairs, the uniform dignity with which he 
fuilained his part amidft difficulties of the 
moll difcouraging nature, and the glory of 
having arrived through them at the hour 
of triumph, have made many official and 
literary perfons on both fides of the ocean, 
ambitious of a correfpondence with him. 
Thefe correfpondencies unavoidably engrof- 
fed a great portion of his time ; and the 
communications contained in them, com- 
bined with the numerous periodical Publi- 
cations and Newf.papers which he perfued, 
rendered him, as it were, the focus of politic- 
al intelligence for the new world* Nor were 
his converfations with well informed men 



260 Biographical Memoirs of 

lefs conducive to bring him acquainted with 
the various events which happened in the 
difFcrrent countries of the globe. Every for- 
eigner of dillinclion, who travelled in Amer- 
ica, made it a point to vifit him- Members 
of Congrefs and other dignified perfonages 
feldom paffed his houfe without calling to 
pay their reipedls. As another fource of 
information, it may be mentioned, that ma- 
ny literary productions were fent to him 
annually by their authors in Europe ; and 
that there is fcarcely one work written in 
America, on any art, fcience, or fubjedt, 
which did notfeek hisprotedion, or which 
was not offered to him as a token of grati- 
tude. Mechanical inventions were fre- 
quently fubmitted to him for his approba- 
tion, and natural curiofities prefented to 
him for his inveftigation. But the multi- 
plicity of epiftolary applications often on the 
remains ot fome bulinefs which happened 
when he was in office, fometimes on fub- 
je6ts f<^)reign to his fituation, frivolous in 
theit nature, and intended merely to gratify 
the varity of the writers by drawing an- 
fwers from him, were truly diftreffing and 



General George Wajhington. 261 

almoft incredible, Kis benignity in an- 
fwering, perhaps increafed the number. 
Did he not hufband every moment to the 
beft advantage, it would not have been in 
his power to notice the vaft variety of fub* 
je<^s that claimed his attention. 

In his manner of living he was extremely 
regular, temperate and induftrious. He 
rofe winter and fummer at the dawn of day, 
generally read or wrote fometime before 
breakfall : breakfafted about feven o'clock 
on Indian hoecake and tea, and often rode 
immediately to his different farms, and re- 
mained with his laborers till a little after 
two o'clock, when he returned ; at three he 
dined, commonly on a fingle difh, and 
drank from half a pint to a pint of Made- 
ria wine, this, with one fmall difli of tea 
which he took half an hour before the fet- 
ting of the fun, conftituted his whole fufle- 
nance till the next day. Hib table, howev- 
er, was always furnifhed with elegance and 
exuberance, but was void of pomp ; and 
whether he had company or not, he re- 
mained an hour at table in familiar conver- 
fation. His temper was of a ferious cafl. 



262 Biographical Memoirs of 

and his countenance carried the impreflion 
of though tMnefs : yet he perfedJy relifhed 
a pleafant flary, an unafFeded fally of wit, 
or a burleique defcription. After dinner 
he applied himfelf to bufinefs, and about 
nine retired to reft ; but when he had com- 
pany he politely attended upon them till 
they wilhed to withdraw. — Agriculture was 
his favorite employment, he made obferva- 
tions on the produce of lands, and endeav- 
ored to throw new light upon the bufinefs 
of the farmer ; linen and woollen cloths 
were maufadured under his roof, and or- 
der and economy were eilablifhed in all his 
departments, both within and without 
doors. Mrs. Wafhington prefided over the 
whole, and united to the qualities of an ex- 
cellent farmer's wife, that fimple dignity 
which ought to characlerife a woman whofe 
hufb Uid has acled fo diftinguiilied a part on 
the public theatre.^ — Such is the hiftory of 
the private life of this great character. 

In 1798, the unparrallelled treatment 
which the American miniflers received at 
Paris from the republic of France, left little 
ground to hope for any amicable acconimo- 



General George Wajhington. 26 S 

dation with that republic, in confequence of 
which, the military forces of the United 
States were greatly augmented, and the 
Prefident, with the advice of the Senate, 
appointed GEORGE WASHINGTON, 

LIEUTENANT GENERAL AND COMMANDER IN 
CHIEF OF ALL THE ARMIES RAISED OR TO BE 

RAISED BY THE United States, this Wife and 
judicious appointnfient was attended with 
the happieft efFed, the virtue of a general 
fo experienced in war, eftabliilied the na- 
tional dignity and independence, and in- 
fpired the citizens with enthufiafm. On 
receiving the appointment, the General ex- 
prefFefl a wifli that it had fallen upon a man 
lefs advanced in years, and better qualified 
to encounter the viciflitudes of war, he re- 
curred to his determination of clofing his 
life in retirement and peace, but the conduct 
of the diredory of France towards our coun- 
try, he faid, " excited in his bread corref- 
ponding fentiments with the reft of his 
countrymen," in confequence of which, he 
accepted the appointment with this referve, 
that '^ he ftiould not be called into the field, 
until the army was in a fituation to require 



264 Biographical Memoirs of 

his prefence, or it came indifpenfable by the 
urgency of circumftances," he infoniied the 
Prefident, " he could not accept of any e- 
moluoient annexed to the appointment, be- 
fore entering into a fituation to incur ex- 
pence." 

He held this command, and contributed 
his advice and affiftance towards the arrange- 
ment and organization of the army until 
the 1 4th of December, 1799, when it pleaf- 
ed Divine Providence to remove him from 
this life J he was in his 68th year, and in the 
enjoyment of perfect health ; the diforder 
of which he died was an inflammatory fore 
throat, which proceeded from a flight cold. 

" On Friday, the 13th, he rode out to 
one of his plantations, and was much wet 
by the rain, on returning. He was taken 
with the croup that night ; but from human- 
ity to his fervants and tendernefs to hi.s phy- 
lician, very unfortunately declined fending for 
medical aid, until day -light on Saturday 
morning. 

" Before Dr. Craik arrived at Mount 
Vernon, the General had been bled by one 
of his overfeers. The doctor repeated the 



General George Wajhington. 265 

fame immediately ; to whom the General 
obferved, " he had fent for him too late ;" 
and feemed to have a prefentiment of his 
diffolution ; Dodors Dick and Brown alfo 
attended. 

" As his refpiration became difficult, he 
faid calmly, " dodors^ I die hard,'' But not- 
withftanding the excruciating agonies of his 
violent difeafe, he tranquilly afked feveral 
queftions during the evening. About fif- 
teen minutes before he died, (which was 
between 11 and 12 o'clock, on Saturday 
night, the 14th of December,) he faid to 
Dr. Craik, " dt)dor^ what is the clock ? how 
long am I to continue in this ftiuat ion ? The doc- 
tor anfwered, "• Not long, fir?' He then re- 
joined, with the firmeft countenance ima- 
ginable, '^ I have no fear^ do6lor to die'' 

Mrs. Wafhington was at the bed-fide with 
his family, and a number of domeftics in 
the room. He would not wound their fen- 
fibility by taking a formal leave of any one. 
— At laft his breathing became fliorter, he 
clofed his eyes and mouth with his own hands— ^ 
and expired ! — Thus did the laft moments 
of this venerable man correfpond with the 
Y 



2&6 Biographical Memoirs of 

whol^ tenor of his well fpent life. He died 
with perfect refignation to the will of Heav- 
en, and in full poffeffion of his reafon, not a 
groan or complaint efcaped him ! 

His body was entombed, with folemn 
honors and funeral pomp, in the family 
vault, upon the eftate of Mount Vernon, at- 
tended by the clergy, military, mafonic 
brethren, and a numerous concourfe of cit- 
izens. 

The melancholy intelligence of the death 
of General Waftiington, was every where 
received throughout the United States, with 
fenfations of forrow and regret ; the houfes 
of Congrefs for a period adjourned ; they 
condoled with the Prefident of the United 
States, on the lofs our country had fuftain- 
ed in the death of her worthieft citizen, 
they went in mourning, and requefted the 
Prefident to iflue his proclamation, recom- 
mending the citizens throughout the Un- 
ion, to wear black crape on the left arm for 
thirty days ; all the ftate affemblies follow- 
ed the example : orders were ilTued from 
the war office, navy department, &c, re- 
quefting the officers to wear crape on the 



General George Wajh'mgton. 267 

left arm for fix months, and the veflels of 
the navy to put on mourning for one week, 
by wearing their colors half maft high. 

Orders were iffued by the diredion of 
the Prefident of the United States, announ- 
cing to the army the death of its beloved 
chiefs and requefted the military honors 
therein, fpecifying to be paid at the feveral 
ftations of the army. 

The S'enate and Houfe of Reprefentatives 
of the United States, enaded " that a mar- 
ble monument be ereded in the capitol in 
the city of Wafhington ; to the memory of 
General Wafliington ; and that his family 
be requefted to permit his body to be depof- 
ited under it ; and that the monument be 
fo defigned as to commemorate the great 
military and political events of his life. — 
That there be a funeral proceflion, and pub- 
lic oration delivered on the occafion." The 
above refolution Mrs. Wafliington affented, 
facrificing her private wifhes and individu- 
al feelings to the public will. The public 
proceiTion took place in Philadelphia, on 
Thurfday, December the 26th, the ceremo- 
ny was judicioufly conduced j perhaps 



268 Biographical Memoirs of 

there never was a greater difplay of public 
mourning, folemnity and refpedt, exhibit- 
ed in the weftern hemifphere j the arrange- 
ments united every defcription of public 
and private charai^er, civil and military ; 
the funeral fervice adapted with great feli- 
city to the occaiion, was pronounced by 
Bifhop White ; the deceafed being of the 
Epifcopal church ; after which, General 
Lee, who was appointed by Congrefs for 
that purpofe, delivered the funeral oration ; 
•we (hall not attempt a report of this admir- 
able eulogium, of which the public are al- 
ready pofTelTed, convinced that it would fuf- 
fer by the attempt. 

Having purfued this diftinguifhed man 
throughout his public life and in his private 
retreat, it only now remains that we de- 
fcribe his perfon, which bears a very great 
analogy to the qualifications of his mind. 

General Wafhington was a tall well made 
man, rather large boned, and had a tolera- 
ble genteel addrcfs : his features were man- 
ly and bold, his eyes of a blufh cafl and ve- 
ry lively ; his hair a deep brown, his face 
rather long and marked with the fmall-pox \ 



General George Wajhingion. 269 

his complexion fun burnt and without much 
color, and his countenance fenfible, compof- 
ed, and thoughtful ; there was a remarka- 
ble air of dignity about him with a ftriking 
degree of gracefulnefs : He had an excellent 
underftanding without much quicknefs j 
was llriclly juft, vigilant, and generous ; an 
affectionate hufband, a faithful friend, ?. fa- 
ther to the deferving ; gentle in his manr 
ners, in temper rather refer ved ; a total 
ftranger to religious prejudices, which have 
fo often excited Chriilians of one denomin- 
ation to cut the throats of thofe of another j 
in his morals irreproachable 5 he was never 
known to exceed the bounds of the moft 
rigid temperance, in a word, all his friends 
and acquaintance univerfally allow that no 
man ever united in his own perfon, a more 
perfed alliance of the virtues of a phi- 
lofopher with the talents of a ftatesman and 
a general. Candor, fmcerity, affability and 
fimplicity feem to have been the ftriking 
features of his character. The befl portraits 
ever taken of him, are thofe painted by the 
ingenious Mr. Stewart, of Germantown,and 
Y 2 



2*70 Biographical Memoirs^ tsfc. 

the beft engraving is the large mezotinto 
done by M- Savage, of Philadelphia. 

Such is the life and charader of the man 
to whom America entrufted her important 
caufe, and (he has had every reafon to be 
fatisfied with her choice ; and moft ungrate- 
ful would Ihe be to the Great Difpofer of 
human events, were fhe not to render him 
unremitting thanks for having provided her 
with fuch a citizen at fuch a crifis. 

Moft nations have been favord with fome 
patriotic deliverer. The Ifraelites had their 
Mofes ; Rome her Camillus ; Greece her 
Leonidas ; Sweden her Guftavus ; and Eng. 
land her Hampdens, her Ruffels, and her 
Sydneys ; but thefe illuftrious heroes, tho' 
fuccefsful in preferving and defending, did 
not, like WASHINGTON, form or eftab- 
lifh empires, which will, in all probability, 
be the refuge or afylum of virtue, baniflied 
from Europe by luxury and corruption. 



ABSTRACT 

OF 1' H E L A S f 

WILL AND TESTAMENT 

OF 

GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON. 



I, George Washington, citizen of the 
United States, do declare this my laft W^ill 
and Teftament, revoking all others : — Ftrji^ 
All my debts are to be punctually and fpee- 
dily paid, and the legacies herein bequeath- 
ed, are to be difcharged in the manner di- 
rected. 

Item. To my dearly beloved wife. Mar* 
tha Wajhington^ I bequeath my whole eftate, 
real and perfonal, during her life, except 
fuch parts thereof as are hereafter other wife 
difpofed of. My improved lot in Alexan- 
dria, I give to her and her heirs forever, as 
alfo my houfehold and kitchen furniture, 
with the liquors, and groceries, which may 
be on hand at the time of my deceafe. 



( 272 ) 

lienu Upon the deceafe of my wife, I de- 
fire, that all the Haves which 1- hold of 7ny 
own right, lliaii receive their freedom ; but 
the aged and irifirm, who are unable to iup- 
pt)rt themfelves, fliall be coniortably cloth- 
ed and fed by my heirs while they live, and 
fuch of the children as have no parents, or 
whofe parents are unable or unwilling to 
provide for them, fhali be bouid by the 
court until they arrive at the age of 25 
years, upon conditions that they fliall be 
taught to read, write, and be brought up to 
fome ufeful occupation \ 1 exprefsiy forbid 
the fale, or tranfportation out of the ftate, 
of any of them, on any pretence whatfoev- 
er ; and I do folemnly enjoin my executors 
to fee this claufe refpecting Haves religiouf- 
]y fulfilled. — To my mulatto man, William, 
1 give immediate freedom, and an annuity 
of 30 dollars during his life, and if he choof- 
es to remain in the fituation he now is, he 
fliall be allowed the clothes and vi6i:uals he 
has been accuflomed to receive, and the a- 
bove thirty dollars befide, " and this I give 

him as a teftimony of my fenfe of his attach- 



( 273 ) 

nient to me, and for his faithful fervices du- 
ring the revolutionary war." 

Item. To the Truftees of the Academy 
of Alexandria, I bequeath 4000 dollars, or, 
in other words, twenty of m.y fhares in the 
bank of Alexandria, towards the fupport of 
a free fchool, for the education of orphans 
and poor children ; the intereft or dividend 
only to be applied ; this is in lieu of an an- 
Duity of JO/, which I have for fome years 
paft, paid towards the fupport of this infti- 
tution. 

Ite?n, The fifty fhares in the Potomac 
Canal company, which I accepted of upon 
particular terms,* from the legillature of 
Virginia, as a recompenfe for my fervices 
during the revolutionary war, and for hav- 
ing fuggefled the advantages which the 
community would dtrive from an exten- 
iion of inland navigation under legiflative 
patronage, I bequeath in perpetuity tow- 
ards the endown ent of a National Univer- 
fity, to be eftabhfhed within the limits of 
the Diftricl of Columbia, under the aufpi- 
ces of the general government j and until 

* See page 149. 



( 274 ) 

fuch feminary is eftabliflied, the profits arif- 
ing from thefe fhares, fliall be laid out in the 
purchafe offtock in the bank of Columbia, 
or fome other bank, until a fum adequate 
to the objecl be obtained- 

Item. My hundred ihares in the James 
River company, I have given, and now con- 
firm in perpetuity to the ufe of Liberty 
Hall Academy. Virginia. 

Item. 1 foiever releafe the eflate, he. of 
my deceafed brother Samuel Wafhington, 
from the payment of the money (upwards 
of lOOO/.j which is due to me tor lands 
w^hich I fold to Philip Pendleton, who as- 
ligned the fame to my brother, who by a- 
greemer-t was to pay me ; And whereas 
two fons of my faid brother Samuel, nam- 
ed Geo. S. Wafhington, and Lawrence A. 
Wafhington, came under my protedion, 
and occaiioned advances on my part for 
their education at college, &c. for board, 
cloathing, and other incidental expences, to 
the amount of near 5000 dollars, which it 
may be inconvenient for them, or the ef- 
tate to refund, for which reafons I do here- 



( 275 ) 

by acquit them and the eft ate from the pay- 
ment thereof. 

Item. The balance due me from the ef- 
tate of Bartholomew Dandridge, deceafed, 
(my wife's brother) amounting, in 1795, to 
425/. I releafe and acquit, and the SS ne- 
groes, formerly belonging to faid eftate, but 
who were fold on execution, and purchaf- 
ed on my account, and by me, fuffered to 
remain in polleflion of Mary his widow, to- 
gether with their increafe, fhail continue in 
her poffeffion during her life, without any 
compenfation ; but at her death, all who 
are aged 40 years, or upwards, fhall receive 
their freedom, all under that age, and up- 
wards of 16, fhall ferve feven years longer, 
and then be free, and all under 16 years, 
fliall ferve until they are 25 years, and then 
be free. 

Item, Charles Carter, who married my 
neice Betty Lewis, Ihall receive from my ex- 
ecutors, a fufficient title to the lots in Fred- 
erickfburgh, which he had of me. 

Item, To my nephew, Wm. A. Waftiing- 
ton, I bequeath lot No. 265, in the town of 
Manchefter, my tenth of certain lots in the 



( 276 ) 

city and vicinity of Richmond, as alfo lot 
No. 139, in the town of Edinburgh, Virgin- 



ia. 



Item. To my nephew Bufhrod Wafliing. 
ton, I give and bequeath, all the papers 
in my poffeflion, which relate to my civil and 
military adminiftration of the affairs of this 
country : I leave to him alfo, fuch of my 
private papers as are worth prefer ving ; and 
at the deceafe of my wife and before, if fhe 
is not inclined to retain them, I give and 
bequeath all my library of books and pam- 
phlets of every kind. 

Item. Having fold certain lands which I 
poffeifed in Pennfylvania, and in New- York, 
my ihare in Great Difmal Swamp, and a 
tract in the county ot Gloucefter, withhold- 
ing the titles until the confideration fhould 
be paid, alfo having leafed and conditional- 
ly fold, all my lands on the Great Kanhawa, 
and a tra^ upon the Difficult Run, whenev- 
er thefe trads are fulfilled, the money fhall 
be veiled in bank flock, the interefl where- 
of I give to my wife during her life, but the 
flock itfelf (hall be fubject to the diftribution 
hereafter willed. 



( 277 ) 

Itetn, To the Earl of Buchan I re- com- 
mit " the box made of the oak that (helter- 
ed the great Sir William Wallace, after the 
battle of Falkirk ; prefented to me by his 
lordihip, in terms too flatteting for roe to 
repeat, with a requeft " to pafs it, on the 
event of my deceafe, to the man in my 
country, who fliould appear to merit it beft 
upon the fame conditions that have induced 
him to fend it to me.'* Whether eafy or 
not to feled the man who might comport 
with his lordfhip*s opinion in this refpedt, is 
not for me to fay \ but conceiving that no 
difpoiition of this valuable curioiity can be 
more eligible than the re- commitment of it 
to his own cabinet, agreeably to the ori.i^in- 
al delign of the Goldfmith*s company of Ed- 
inburgh, who prefented it to him, and, at 
his requeft, confented that it fliould be tranf- 
ferred to me ; I bequeath the fame to his 
lordfhip ; and, in cafe of his deceafe, to his 
heir, with my grateful thanks for the dif- 
tinguiflied honor of prefenting it to me, and 
more efpecially for the favorable fentiments 
with which he accompanied it. 
Z 



( 278 ) 

Item. To rny brother, Charles Wafhing- 
ton, I bequeath the gold-headed cane, left 
me by Dr. Franklin in his wilL To the ac- 
quaintances and friends of my juvenile years, 
Laurence Wafhington, and Robert Wafh- 
ington of Chotanck, I give my other two 
golden headed canes, having my arms en- 
graved on them, and to each (as they will 
be ufeful where the^Jive) I leave one of the 
fpyglaffes, which conftituted part of my e- 
quipage during the revolutionary war. To 
my compatriot in arms and old and inti- 
mate friend. Dr. Craik, I give my bureau 
(or as the cabinet makers call it, tambour 
Secretary) and the circular chair, an appen- 
dage to my ftudy. To Dr. David Sti^art, I 
give my large (having and dreffing table, 
h my telefcope. To the Rev. now Bryan Ld. 
Fairfax, I give a bible in three large folio 
volumes, with notes prefented to me by the 
Rt. Rev. Thomas Wilfon, BiQiop of Sodor 
and Man. To General de la Fayette, I give 
a pair of finely wrought fteel piftols, taken 
from the enemy during the revolutionary 
war. To mv fifters4n-law, Hannah Wafli- 
ington and Mildred Wafhington, to my 



( 279 ) 

friends Elenor Stuart, Hannah Wafhington, 
of Fairfield, and Elizabeth Wafhington, of 
Hayfield, I give, each a mourning ring, of 
the value of one hundred Dollars. Thefe 
bequefts are not made for the intrinfic val- 
ue of them, but as mementos of my efteem 
and regard. To Tobias Lear, I give the 
ufe of the farm which he now holds free 
from rent during his life. To Sally B. 
Haine (a diftant relation of mine) I give and 
bequeath three hundred dollars. To Sarah 
Green, daughter of the deceafed Thomas 
Blfhop, and to Ann Walker, daughter of 
John Alton, alfo deceafed, I give each one 
hundred dollars, in confideration of the at- 
tachment of their fathers to me ; each of 
whom having lived nearly forty years in my 
family. To each of my nephews, Wm. A. 
Wafhington, Geo Lewis, Geo. 8. Wafhing- 
ton, Bufhrod Wafhington, and Sam. Wafh- 
ington, I give one of the Swords or cut- 
teaux of which I may die pofTefTed : and 
they are to choofe in the order they are nam- 
ed. Thefe fwords are accompanied with 
an injunction not to unfheath them for the 
purpofe of Ihedding blood, except it be for 



( 280 ) 

ielf- defence, or in defence of their country 
and its rights ; and in the latter cafe to keep 
them unfheathed, and prefer falling with 
them in their hands to the relinquilhment 
thereof. 

Item, To my nephew Bufiirod Wafhing- 
ton, and his heirs, I bequeath all that part 
of Mount Vernon, included within the fol- 
lowing limits, \_here the original will defcribes 
the boundaries'] containing upwards of 4000 
acres, with the manfion houfe, and all oth- 
er improvements : Secondly^ To George F. 
Wafliington, and Lawrence A. "\JSi7'afhington, 
and their heirs, to be equally divided be- 
tween them, I give my eftate of Little Hunt- 
ing Creek, lying on the Potoniack contain- 
ing 2027 acres, with the improvements 
thereon : — Thirdly ^ I bequeath to Laurence 
Lewis and his wife, and their heirs, all the 
refidue of Mount Vernon, containing about 
2000 acres, together with the mili, diftillery, 
and other improvements. — Fourthly^ 1 be- 
queath to Geo. Walhington Park Cuftis, the 
grandfon of my wife, my trad on four mile 
run, containing 1200 acres and my entire 
fquare, No. !gl, in the city of Walhington. 



( ^Sl ) 

[^The refidue of his eftate real and per* 
lonal, the General requefts to be fold by his 
executors to the beft advantage, and the 
monies ariling therefrom to be divided in- 
to twenty three equal parts, which he be- 
queaths equally, to his own and his wife's 
relations, fpecifying their names.] 

The T'amily Vault at Mount Vernon, re- 
quiring repairs, and being improperly fitu- 
ated, 1 defire that a new one of brick, and 
upon a larger fcale, may be built on the 
ground which is marked out ; in which my 
remains, with thofe of my deceafed relations 
Cnow in the old vault) and fuch others of 
my family as may choofe to be entombed 
there, may be depofited. And it is my ex« 
prefs defire, that my corps may be interred 
in a private manner, without parade or fu- 
neral oration. 

Lajlly, I conftitute and appoint my dear- 
ly beloved wife Martha Wafhington, my 
nephews William Auguftine Wafhington, 
Bufhrod W ifhington, George S. Wafhing- 
ton, Samuel Wafhington, and Laurence 
Lewis, and my ward George Wafhington P. 
Z 2 



( 282 ) 

Cuftis, (when he fliall have arrived at the 
age of 20 years) executrix and executors of 
this WILL and TESTAMENT. 



(283 ) 

[THE original Will is of the General's 
own hand writing ; his name is fubfcribed 
to every page of it ; he confulted no profef- 
lional character in the conftrudion of it, and 
he accompanies every //^;72.with remarks and 
explanations of the meaning and defign of 
them ; it is dated July 9th, 1799, and twen- 
ty. fourth year of the Independence of the 
United States of America. Annexed to the 
"Will is the following fchedule of the prop- 
erty direded to be fold with a moderate val- 
uation of their worth,] 

IN VIRGINIA. 

Acres. Price, Dols. 
Loudon CO. Diff. Run, 300 QfiQ6 

Loudon and Fauquier, 

Afhby's Bent, 2481 lOd, ^4,810 
Chattin's Run, 885 8 IfilO 
Berkley, S. fork of Bull- 
fkin, 1 600 

Head of Evan's m. 453 
In Wormley's line, 1 83 



2236 20 44,720 



^'Meter!'""^^'^'''"! 571 20 U,VZO 



( 284 ) 

Jens, Price* Dolls. 
Hampfl, on Potomac 7 . 

river, above B. 3 ' 

Gloucefter on N. riv. 400 about 3,600 

Nanfemond near Suff. 7 3 

folk, 3a of 1119 ac. 3 ' 

Gr.Difmal Swamp roy 7 t ^^ ^^^ 

dividend thereof/ i about 20,000 

Ohio riv. Round Bot- 7 ^ 
torn, 3 

Little Kanhawa, 23 1 4 



2901 
16 m. lower dow^n, 2448 

Oppofite Big Bent, 4395 



■dollars 



9744' 10 94,440 
^ GREAT KANHAWA. 
Near the N. Weft, 10,990 
Eaft fide above, 7276 

Mouth of Cole riv. 2000 



Oppofite thereto 1950') 
Burning Spring 125 3 



200,000 



MARYLAND. 
Charles County, 600 6 3,600 

Montgomery do. 519 12 6,229 



( 285 ) 



Acres. Price. Dolls 
PENNSYLVANIA. 
Great Meadows, iiS4 6 l5404< 

NEW-YORK. 
Mohawk river, about 1000 6 6,000 

NORTH-WEST TERRITORY. 
On Little Miami, 839 

do. do. 977 

do. do. 1235 



3051 
KENTUCKY. 
Rough Creek, 3000 

do. adjoining, 2000 



5000 
LOTS, viz. 

CityofWaJhmgton, 
Two near the Capitol 

Square, 

coil 693 D. and with 

buildings 
No. 5, 12, 13, and 14, 

the three laft water 

lots on the Eaftern 

Branch, in iquare 



634, 



15,251 



2 10,000 



1 5,000 



( 286 ) 

Acres-' Price. Dolls, 
667, containing to- 
gether 345438rquare 

fe^t, at 12 cents, 4,132 

Alexandria, 
Corner of Pitt and Pr. 
ftreets, 1-2 an acre 
laid out into build- 
ings, three or four of 
which are let on 
ground rent at 3 d. 

per foot, 4,000 

Winchejler. 
A lot in the town of 
half an acre, and an- 
other in the Com- 
mons of about 6 a- 

cres, flippofed 4,000 

Bath, or Warm Springs* 
Two well fituated, and 
had buildings to the 

amount of 150l. 8,000 

STOCK. 
United States, 
Six per cents, 3746 



( 287 ) 

Six per ct. defer'd, 1873 7 
3 ditto. 2946 3 



2500 



Dolls. 
6,246 



Potomac Company. 
24 fhares coft ea. 1 000/e 

fterling, 10,666 

James River Compatny. 
Five fhares each coft 

100 dollars, 500 

Bank of Columbia, 
170 fliares, 40 d. each, 6,800 

Bank of Alexandria* 
Befides 20 fhares to the 

Free School — Five 1000 

STOCK LIVING, viz. 
1 covering Horfe, 5 carnage Horfes, 4 ri- 
ding do. 6 brood Mares, 20 working Horfes 
and Mares, 2 covering Jacks, and 3 young 
ones, 10 fhe Affes, 42 v^orking Muies, 15 
younger ones, 329 head horned Cattle, 640 
head of Sheep, and a large ftock of Hogs the 
precife number unknown. — C/'Mv Manager 
has eftimated this live ftock at 7000I. but I 
fhall fet it down in order to make a round 
fum at \5fi 5S 

Aggi^^gate amountjv 530,000 






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